It has become a common phenomenon for politicians to respond to problems with the defensive 'best in the world' response.

Yet this would have to be one of the most unhelpful, most infantile, responses one could give when there are genuine concerns. Such matters as being unable to find a suitable aged-care bed or experiencing neglect in an understaffed aged-care facility, for example.

I have no idea how Australia rates in aged care compared to other countries. My guess is that such comparisons are impossible to make – with great variations within any system and huge cultural differences/attitudes towards the care of frail, aged people. In any case, any system of care must continually seek improvement and find ways to eliminate failures, abuse and neglect.

The 'we have the best aged care in the world' approach indicates that there is little critical analysis of the system as it currently operates here in Australia.

How else to explain that nothing has been done to reduce the high level of bureaucracy facing aged-care staff?

For years, nurses have been telling anyone who will listen that the recording/reporting process significantly reduces their time for critical resident care. How else to explain the poor, even dangerous, staff ratio operating in many facilities – although the care needs of residents has never been higher? Several recent audit reports suggest that things are far from well in aged-care land.

So who is protecting the rights and well-being of society's most vulnerable citizens? Many of those who administer the system have a vested interested in adhering to the status quo. Their careers depend on it.

Is the complaints system ferreting out failures in the system? The old version of the scheme didn't. It didn't even have investigative powers. It is too soon to know how the new revamped system is going along.

We do know that staff who blow the whistle are often cruelly punished. For example, the carer who spoke out about neglect and abuse in a Tasmanian facility knew that he would never be employed in aged care again.

Similar punitive action has followed others who have spoken out. A recent edition of Four Corners on the ABC gave examples of what generally happens to whistleblowers within the health system. And sadly, family members are generally too fearful or traumatized to speak out when things go wrong.

Best aged-care system in the world Minister? Tell that to the nursing home resident waiting hours for attention? And then tell it to overworked, and undervalued, aged-care workers who know that they can never really get the job done to their satisfaction.

After that it might be worth showing the world you care by having a chat to the Prime Minister and Treasurer about that huge surplus they have stashed away in their coffers and which might be used to deal with the issues that need your urgent attention.