❓ WA Minister for Seniors and Ageing criticises the federal government's elder abuse funding announcement, stating it falls short and doesn't adequately support WA's existing services. The Minister highlights the importance of state-funded services like Advocare and the Older People's Rights Service.
AnsweredQoN 183Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ELDER ABUSE —
FUNDING
183. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
Can the minister advise the house of
this government's response to the elder abuse announcements made by the
federal government yesterday and whether there are any concerns that WA's
already strained services will not be properly funded by the federal Liberal
government?
FUNDING
183. Ms J.M. FREEMAN to the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
Can the minister advise the house of
this government's response to the elder abuse announcements made by the
federal government yesterday and whether there are any concerns that WA's
already strained services will not be properly funded by the federal Liberal
government?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for the question on this very serious issue. Firstly, I thank
the Western Australian Attorney General for the work that he has been
doing on this issue and for working with all the other states'
Attorneys General. It is unfortunate that the announcement that was made by the
commonwealth government this week about funding for the elder abuse program
falls far short of what it should do. It was an $18 million announcement, but
unfortunately most of the money is on the
east coast, and there is nothing to help our elder abuse hotlines that are
already out there.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M.P. MURRAY : The state
government contributes $115 000 to Advocare and $280 000 to the Older People's
Rights Service that allows people to have the confidence to ring these groups
to get advice that is very difficult to source for some people—especially
when it is a family issue. I have done this several times, but I remind members
that elder abuse is not just about physical abuse. It is about all sorts of
abuse—mental, financial and other things that go on. Generally, it is
by someone who is a very close in the family. I understand that we need
anonymity for people to be able to ring in and get that advice and take it back
without blowing a whistle or going through the police department. I know one thing—Christian
Porter, the Attorney General for the commonwealth, has great foresight, but
unfortunately it has failed him at this time. I say he has great foresight
because he abandoned ship from that side of the house before it sank. He knew
that it was coming. He saw the writing on the wall and jumped on the plane and
went over to the commonwealth government. I am a bit nonplussed, to say the
least, that he could not see forward enough to understand that we need funding
help for Advocare and the Older People's Rights Service. What he did,
which was very annoying, is say that there would be an elder abuse hotline, but
it will use the states' lines. All he did was change the phone number,
which will then be redirected to those overworked people in the state.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, stop that chatter.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : This year
alone there will be over 1 000 phone calls about elder abuse. That is 1 000
families that are being affected in one way or another, yet no money is coming
from the federal government. Come on! It is shameful that the federal
government is doing that. Again, we ask it to reconsider funding those
hotlines.
thank the member for the question on this very serious issue. Firstly, I thank
the Western Australian Attorney General for the work that he has been
doing on this issue and for working with all the other states'
Attorneys General. It is unfortunate that the announcement that was made by the
commonwealth government this week about funding for the elder abuse program
falls far short of what it should do. It was an $18 million announcement, but
unfortunately most of the money is on the
east coast, and there is nothing to help our elder abuse hotlines that are
already out there.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M.P. MURRAY : The state
government contributes $115 000 to Advocare and $280 000 to the Older People's
Rights Service that allows people to have the confidence to ring these groups
to get advice that is very difficult to source for some people—especially
when it is a family issue. I have done this several times, but I remind members
that elder abuse is not just about physical abuse. It is about all sorts of
abuse—mental, financial and other things that go on. Generally, it is
by someone who is a very close in the family. I understand that we need
anonymity for people to be able to ring in and get that advice and take it back
without blowing a whistle or going through the police department. I know one thing—Christian
Porter, the Attorney General for the commonwealth, has great foresight, but
unfortunately it has failed him at this time. I say he has great foresight
because he abandoned ship from that side of the house before it sank. He knew
that it was coming. He saw the writing on the wall and jumped on the plane and
went over to the commonwealth government. I am a bit nonplussed, to say the
least, that he could not see forward enough to understand that we need funding
help for Advocare and the Older People's Rights Service. What he did,
which was very annoying, is say that there would be an elder abuse hotline, but
it will use the states' lines. All he did was change the phone number,
which will then be redirected to those overworked people in the state.
Mrs A.K. Hayden interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Darling Range, stop that chatter.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : This year
alone there will be over 1 000 phone calls about elder abuse. That is 1 000
families that are being affected in one way or another, yet no money is coming
from the federal government. Come on! It is shameful that the federal
government is doing that. Again, we ask it to reconsider funding those
hotlines.
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