[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Elder Abuse in Tasmania_C O'Connor MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

BARTLETT GOVERNMENT FAILING ON ELDER ABUSE PREVENTION

Labor Fiascos a Higher Priority than Pro-Active Governance
 
Cassy O'Connor MP
Greens Shadow Health Spokesperson

Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today expressed their concern over the rising
incidence of Elder Abuse in Tasmania and condemned the Bartlett
Government for failing to provide specialist funding, and for failing to
keep up with other Australian jurisdictions in developing effective and
enforceable strategies to reduce Elder Abuse.

Greens Shadow Health spokesperson Cassy O'Connor MP said a recent forum
on Elder Abuse at the Glenorchy Civic Centre heard that an estimated
3000 - 4000 Tasmanians are currently victims of Elder Abuse, and that
this is expected to double to 6000 - 8000 cases by 2020. 

"The Greens are deeply concerned that the current law and policy
settings in Tasmania do not adequately protect our vulnerable elderly
citizens from being beaten, neglected or exploited in their own homes,
usually by their carers or family members," Ms O'Connor said.

"Thousands of Tasmanians are currently suffering from physical and
financial abuse yet the Bartlett Government seems to be too busy sorting
out its own internal fiascos to ensure Tasmanian law and policies
protect these most vulnerable Tasmanians."

"The Government should stop concentrating on the debacles caused by its
own Members and bring Tasmania into line with the rest of Australia in
confronting this issue and ensuring better protection for senior
Tasmanian citizens who deserve to feel safe in their own homes." 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
Text of motion tabled by Cassy O'Connor MP in the House of Assembly
today:
1. Notes that a recent forum on Elder Abuse at the Glenorchy Civic
Centre was told that the physical and financial abuse of senior citizens
in our community affects an estimated 3 - 4000 Tasmanians;
2. Further notes that with an ageing population, the incidence of Elder
Abuse is project to rise to an estimated 6-8000 cases in Tasmania by
2020;
3. Expresses it deep concern that the law and policy settings as they
currently stand in Tasmania do not adequately protect our vulnerable
senior citizens from being beaten, neglected, exploited or neglected in
their own homes, usually by their carers or family members;
4. Condemns the Bartlett Government for failing to provide specialist
funding to tackle Elder Abuse, and for failing to keep up with other
Australian jurisdictions in developing effective, enforceable and
appropriately funded strategies to prevent elder abuse in the Tasmanian
community; and
5. Calls on the Bartlett Government to bring Tasmania into line with the
rest of Australia in confronting the issue, and to take meaningful
action to ensure better protection for Tasmania's senior citizens who
are entitled to feel secure in their own homes.




Any opinions expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual and not necessarily the Parliament of Tasmania. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient or person responsible for delivering to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, advise the sender immediately by using the reply facility in your e-mail software.


Warning: Computer viruses may be transmitted or downloaded onto any computer system via e-mail communication. It is the recipient's responsibility to take appropriate action to prevent computer viruses being transmitted In this way. Accordingly the Parliament of Tasmania disclaim all responsibility which arises directly or indirectly from such transmission of computer viruses.