Royal commission into aged care sector

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is to announce a royal commission into the aged-care sector following appalling cases of abuse of elderly people, it's been reported.

Mr Morrison will announce the inquiry on Sunday, with the decision triggered in part by the Oakden nursing home scandal in South Australia, News Corp Australia reports.

The prime minister could no longer ignore the alarming number of aged-care operators who are "putting lives at risk by flouting the law in pursuit of profits".

The Oakden nursing home for elderly people was shut down last year following a damning report by South Australia's chief psychiatrist highlighting ongoing neglect and mistreatment of residents.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has labelled the Oakden case "one of the greatest disgraces in Australian mental healthcare history".