ALRC InBrief | February 2016

New Inquiry announced – Elder abuse

The Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC has announced a new Inquiry for the ALRC on Protecting the Rights of Older Australians from Abuse.

The Attorney described elder abuse as ‘a symptom of attitudes which fail to respect and recognise the rights of older Australians to make decisions, to live self‑determined lives, to live with dignity and live free from exploitation, violence and abuse’. In this respect, the Inquiry will build on the ALRC’s work around respect for the will, preferences and rights of vulnerable Australians, delivered in its 2014 report Equality, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth Laws (ALRC Report 124), specifically mentioned in the Terms of Reference.

ALRC President Professor Rosalind Croucher AM welcomes the Attorney’s announcement and will be the Commissioner-in-charge of this new Inquiry. 

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We will be following up with a more fulsome Brief in the next week or so, once the Freedoms final report has been tabled.