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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-06-06 Daily Xml
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (16:13): I rise to move and speak on the motion in my name which acknowledges World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June, and the importance of commemorating the day. I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges that since 2006, concerned citizens, professionals, older people and service providers gather on 15 June each year to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and encourages members of the council to wear purple to raise awareness of elder abuse;

2. Notes that World Elder Abuse Awareness Day recognises the significance of elder abuse as a growing social and financial concern, public health matter, and human rights issue;

3. Acknowledges that elder abuse comes in many forms including physical, psychological, financial, social, sexual and neglect and can be experienced in the community as well as living in an aged-care facility;

4. Recognises that one in 20 older people are the victims of elder abuse and that more research is required to tackle this critical issue;

5. Supports the national plan to address elder abuse and the need for governments at both state and federal level to work together to address violence, abuse and neglect of older people;

6. Encourages governments to work with the non-government sector which provides crucial support to older people who are at risk of abuse, or who are being abused;

7. Supports the implementation of adult safeguarding legislation that balances the state's duty to protect people from abuse and its duty to protect people's freedoms and autonomy; and

8 Recognises that elder abuse is unacceptable in any form and that all older South Australians deserve to live a life free of violence, abuse and neglect.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was created by the United Nations International Plan of Action recognising the significance of elder abuse as a growing social and financial concern, public health matter and human rights issue.

The WHO defines elder abuse as a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person. Elder abuse comes in many forms, including physical, psychological, financial, social, sexual and neglect and can be experienced in the community, in the family home perpetuated by a family member, as well as living in an aged-care facility perpetuated by carers who are entrusted with the care of our loved ones.

Given the abuse scandals uncovered in recent years, particularly in South Australia, it is more important than ever to acknowledge the issue of elder abuse in our community. The Aged Rights Advocacy Service estimates that one in 20 older people are victims of elder abuse. This figure is simply unacceptable. While more research is required to tackle this critical issue, we also need action now.

The protection of vulnerable people is a fundamental responsibility of government. The current laws and systems in South Australia are wholly inadequate to afford vulnerable people over the age of 18 even the most basic of protections. In 2011, the state government received the Closing the Gaps report, published by the South Australian Office of the Public Advocate in collaboration with the University of South Australia.

This key report made strong recommendations for the protection from abuse of all vulnerable adult South Australians, not just the elderly but particularly the elderly. The foundation recommendations of the Closing the Gaps report were emphatically reinforced by the subsequent South Australian parliamentary inquiry: Final Report of the Joint Committee on Matters Relating to Elder Abuse of 31 October 2017, and were ostensibly echoed by the Australian Law Reform Commission report: Elder Abuse—A National Legal Response of May 2017.

The Council on the Ageing, in its recent election manifesto of January 2018, also endorsed the Closing the Gaps report as the authoritative plan. Despite the horrific failings at the Oakden facility, the unacceptable increasing rate of reported abuse of the elderly and the recent reports calling for immediate implementation of key recommendations of the Closing the Gaps report, little has been done.

I look forward to debating the whistleblower protection laws introduced by the government, along with the recent bill to protect children and vulnerable adults. It is a start but, as many in this chamber will agree, there is much more to be done in terms of legislation. I encourage governments to work with the non-government sector, which provides crucial support to older people who are at risk of abuse or who are being abused.

I take this time to recognise the outstanding work of the Alliance for the Prevention of Elder Abuse in South Australia, which includes the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, the Office of the Public Advocate, the Public Trustee, SAPOL and the Legal Services Commission, on the issue of elder abuse. The Aged Rights Advocacy Service's 12th World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference will be held in Adelaide next week, on 15 June. It is bringing together health professionals, lawyers, social workers, service providers, government and concerned citizens to discuss prevention and intervention strategies.

I very much look forward to attending this conference to listen to the experts discuss the many complex issues involved in elder abuse and to learn from their expertise. I will be wearing purple that day as a sign of respect, and I encourage my colleagues in the chamber and in the other place to do the same. All older people have a fundamental human right to protection from abuse and to be treated with dignity and respect. I commend this motion to the council.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon J.E. Hanson.

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