4 years ago
WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY 2020
Julie Collins MP
On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) Labor reaffirms our commitment to the rights of older people to live with dignity, free from all forms of abuse.
Sadly, we continue to see reports that the COVID-19 crisis has only increased incidences of elder abuse.
Devastatingly, elder abuse appears to continue to be primarily perpetrated by family members.
As a society we must do everything we can to protect older Australians. It is clear the Morrison Government has not done enough.
Yesterday’s rushed announcement to give ‘initial’ funding to a serious incident response scheme from July next year is just the latest example.
It has been more than three years since the Australian Law Reform Commission first recommended this action along with other sweeping reforms to tackle elder abuse.
Sadly many of the ALRC’s recommendations from 2017 have not been implemented by the Morrison Government.
In the context of an ageing population in Australia, a failure to tackle elder abuse will have a devastating impact on the future of our country.
The mistreatment of older Australians is simply not acceptable and Labor stands ready to work with governments at all levels to stamp out elder abuse.
Sadly, we continue to see reports that the COVID-19 crisis has only increased incidences of elder abuse.
Devastatingly, elder abuse appears to continue to be primarily perpetrated by family members.
As a society we must do everything we can to protect older Australians. It is clear the Morrison Government has not done enough.
Yesterday’s rushed announcement to give ‘initial’ funding to a serious incident response scheme from July next year is just the latest example.
It has been more than three years since the Australian Law Reform Commission first recommended this action along with other sweeping reforms to tackle elder abuse.
Sadly many of the ALRC’s recommendations from 2017 have not been implemented by the Morrison Government.
In the context of an ageing population in Australia, a failure to tackle elder abuse will have a devastating impact on the future of our country.
The mistreatment of older Australians is simply not acceptable and Labor stands ready to work with governments at all levels to stamp out elder abuse.