Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck has urged the company at the centre of a controversial nursing home closure on the Gold Coast to pay workers' full entitlements.
The Queensland Nurses Union has called for an immediate hardship payment for staff owed thousands of dollars after the sudden closure of the Earle Haven Retirement Village earlier this month.
Labor used question time on Monday to ask Senator Colbeck if he could guarantee staff would get unpaid wages and superannuation entitlements.
The minister said a contractual dispute between subcontractor HelpStreet and owner People Care was at the heart of the matter, rather than the financial viability of the two companies.
"I would urge the parties that have not paid - and I understand that is an organisation by the name of HelpStreet - to fully pay their staff," Senator Colbeck told the upper house on Thursday.
"The staff had no party to this, they are not party to the dispute."
About 70 residents evacuated from the facility's high-care wing over a week ago still have no idea when they'll be able to return to familiar surroundings.
Senator Colbeck said sanctions placed on the company had severely impacted the nursing home's ability to operate.
"Until those conditions of those sanctions are met, the facility won't be able to operate further," he said.
The minister took a question on notice about the details of complaints made about the home during the past 12 months.
He also thanked the staff who stayed to help distressed residents, despite their employer telling them not to, and Queensland Health for finding temporary accommodation for residents.
Australian Associated Press