Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 13 Hansard (25 November) . . Page.. 4613 ..
MS TUCKER (continuing):
I had a look again at this report, which was presented in August 2001. There was a government response. To its credit, the previous government did respond to that committee report and its recommendations. This government did produce a report to look at the recommendations.
I have had a look at the government's response to that report, which was presented in September 2002. Then, in the most recent annual report of the Chief Minister's Department, we have a good summary of what has happened to date, and the action to date by this government to the recommendations of that report into elder abuse that they agreed to.
I think the really concerning thing for me about this whole process, and I have some sympathy with some of the comments from Mr Cornwell on this, is the rather frustrating lack of action. I will give you a few examples. There are some really key recommendations in this elder abuse report. For example, recommendation No 4 states:
The committee recommends that the government establish a single contact telephone number for members of the public, family, and friends and other service delivery agencies and individuals to report instances of elder abuse as well as to provide an information and education resource for older people and their loved ones concerning elder abuse prevention and redress/intervention.
The response from the government in September 2002 agreed to this recommendation. It stated:
The government made a commitment in its Plan for Older Canberrans to establish a single contact phone number for reports of elder abuse.
A number of options are being investigated to ensure the most appropriate and effective strategy is implemented.
I will not read it all in detail because I will run out of time very shortly. When you now look at this annual report of the Chief Minister's Department to see what they have done on that, basically what they are saying is the same thing: we will look at it, we are investigating how we can ensure that there is a single contact number.
Action to date: The elder abuse prevention implementation taskforce is exploring options for standards of operations and for locating the phone line relative to established community service phone line services.
Nothing has happened. Basically, we are still being told that it is being looked at. Another committee recommendation was that the government investigate and initiate programs to reduce the incidents of social isolation. We are being told again by the government that:
The elder abuse prevention implementation taskforce will map existing ACT initiatives and programs and identify those operating within other jurisdictions with a view to implementing effective and coordinated programs and initiatives.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .