Australian Law Reform Commission Inquiry into Elder Abuse

The Australian Law Reform Commission recently launched an inquiry on Protecting the Rights of Older Australians from Abuse.

According to the terms of reference for the inquiry set out by the country's Attorney-General, the Commission will examine:

• "existing Commonwealth laws and frameworks which seek to safeguard and protect older persons from misuse or abuse by formal and informal carers, supporters, representatives and others. These should include, but not be limited to, regulation of:
  • financial institutions
  • superannuation
  • social security
  • living and care arrangements, and
  • health
• the interaction and relationship of these laws with state and territory laws..."
  
  "In undertaking this reference, the ALRC should identify and model best-practice legal frameworks. The ALRC should also have regard to other inquiries and reviews that it considers relevant, including:
  
• the recommendations of ALRC Report 124, Equality, Capacity and Disability in Commonwealth Laws (2014)
• the recommendations of  the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs report on violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability (2015), and
• the recommendations of the Commonwealth House of Representatives report, Older People and the Law (2007)."