Julie Collins, Labor’s Shadow Minister for Ageing, is advocating for the Royal Commission into Aged Care to specifically examine the outbreak at Newmarch House.

“The Royal Commission has the necessary investigative powers to get to the bottom of what has happened, with concerning reports of infection control failures at Newmarch House,” she wrote on Twitter.

“All Australians must be assured we have the very best infection control practises [sic] in aged care.”

As we covered here, the Royal Commission has already asked for submissions on the impact of COVID-19 on aged care homes from residents, families, providers, staff and the public.

But the Commissioners are not above turning their attention to events that have grabbed the nation and media’s attention – holding a hearing into the events at Earle Haven last year.