Two weeks ago, we reported that the 40-bed DP Jones aged care home in Murchison (pictured), 167km from Melbourne, would close after two expressions of interest campaigns by the administrator failed to net a buyer.
Now the local paper is saying the Federal Government has committed an extra $120,000 to SV Partners Liquidators to cover further costs while the Government engages with potential buyers in a bid to re-establish the facility.
Labor has also this week questioned the Government’s $400,000 grant for operating losses provided to the home’s operators Murchison Community Care over three months after it went into liquidation in November 2019.
Murchison is in the electorate of Nationals MP Damian Drum – The Guardian says that in November, Drum said the money meant the centre was “staying open, end of story” and “there are no conversations about shutting the place down”.
Despite the injection of funds, the home closed its doors last week with the last of the residents relocated to other facilities and staff made redundant.
It is reportedly the biggest employer in town.
Unless the Government can provide an operator willing to cover the operator’s losses however, we suspect its doors will remain shut.
