Hunter retirement village residents are being promised easier dispute resolution under a NSW Labor plan to establish an industry ombudsman for the sector.
The ombudsman would consider disputes related to current regulations on retirement villages and residential land lease communities.
The plan follows the Berejiklian Government's announcement of a retirement village ambassador responsible for the sector, which Labor Leader, Luke Foley says won't be sufficient for the 90,000 NSW residents living in retirement communities.
Following a damning ABC Four Corners investigation into the aged-care sector, a report commissioned by the State Government recommended better dispute resolution methods for residents of retirement villages.
Swansea MP and Shadow Minister for Better Regulation, Yasmin Catley says Hunter retirement village residents are asking for an ombudsman, not an ambassador to oversee the sector.
"Everywhere I go, and I have traveled this state from top to bottom meeting with residents from residential home parks and retirement villages, they are absolutely calling out for an ombudsman," she said.
"There's no doubt in my mind that the sector will be very pleased by Labor's initiative."
The ABC's Four Corners report revealed worrying conditions some aged-care residents live in and prompted the State Government to commission the Greiner Report.
The Report received 40 submissions suggesting an ombudsman, and the suggestion was also made in most of the community forums relating to aged-care and retirement communities. The Government has since announced an industry ambassador for the sector.
Yasmin Catley has criticised the announcement and says the plan to have an ombudsman is what Hunter residents are asking for.
"Well what is an ambassador? It's all a bit of fluff quite frankly, and it just does not go far enough," she said.
"There is a strong support from residents to have an ombudsman because one of the things they find the most difficult is resolving disputes, and that's where an ombudsman will come into play."
The Federal Government's Royal Commission into aged-care will also continue to investigate the sector.
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| The NSW Government has announced a retirement village ambassador. (Image: ABC News, Natasha Johnson) |
