JODIE HARRISON CALLS ON THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE AGED CARE AND DISABILITY SERVICES

Today in Parliament, Member for Charlestown, Jodie Harrison spoke on the need to establish an Ageing and Disability Commission to improve the services currently provided to people living in aged care and disability facilities.

Speaking on the Ageing and Disability Commissioner Bill 2019 Ms Harrison outlined the horrific abuse and neglect some of the most vulnerable members of our community are experiencing in institutions that should be there to protect them.

This Bill has come about following last years review of the Guardianship Act by the Law Reform Commission, and two Royal Commissions as well as the NSW Ombudsmans special report to Parliament titled Abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults in NSW: The need for action, Ms Harrison said.

The Ombudsmans Inquiry found that there are highly vulnerable adults living in atrocious circumstances, and experiencing serious and ongoing abuse and neglect while being hidden from society and prevented from accessing the supports they need, she said.

It found that there is an urgent need for better safeguards and protections for these vulnerable adults in our community.

The establishment of an Ageing and Disability Commissioner and its overarching Board will strengthen the ability to respond to issues of neglect, abuse and exploitation which is definitely a move in the right direction.

However, the establishment of a Commissioner has been a long time coming, and I want to make sure that the Commissioner has sufficient powers to investigate and bring justice to older people and people with a disability who have been abused, whatever their living arrangements.