Queensland Law Society welcomes the release of a landmark report exposing the devastating impact of elder abuse and supports all 15 recommendations aimed at safeguarding older Queenslanders from harm.
The Parliamentary Inquiry into Elder Abuse in Queensland received 121 submissions and heard from 124 witnesses across 16 locations.
QLS provided a written submission to the inquiry and appeared at the public hearing on 25 August.
QLS president Genevieve Dee said the Education, Arts and Communities Committee’s report includes key recommendations that reflect the Society’s submission and its long-running advocacy on the issue.
She said older Queenslanders deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, free from any form of abuse or neglect.
“We commend the committee for their work on this report and the Queensland Government for establishing the inquiry into this important issue,” she said.
“The report recommends a whole-of-government approach to elder abuse reform, which QLS has consistently advocated for through our elder abuse work, including previous submissions and our pre-election Call to Parties statement.
“We look forward to the Queensland Government’s response to the report and to working with them to implement the recommendations it agrees to adopt.
“The Society has long been a leader in bringing attention to this important issue, and we welcome the progress being made to tackle elder abuse.”
She said the Society supported all 15 of the report’s recommendations, noting Recommendations 3, 7, and 9 – 13 were consistent with QLS’s submission and previous advocacy.
QLS’s submission and attendance at the public hearing were referenced 23 times in the report, while two papers the Society published jointly with the Public Advocate for Queensland were referenced seven times.
The repeated references to QLS’s joint papers and submission underscore the Society’s leadership in advocacy to prevent and respond to elder abuse.
In a statement, Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services Amanda Camm welcomed the report’s findings and said a formal response to the recommendations will be provided in the New Year.
