Ageing & Disability Commissioner Bill

30 May 2019

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates 40,000 older people and 90,000 people with disability experience violence each year in New South Wales. These figures are a devastating reflection on the reality faced by many in our community and perhaps someone we love dearly.

Despite the prevalence of crimes against older people and people with a disability, prosecution rates for crimes against such vulnerable people remain low. Of the 1140 incidents of abuse reported to the NSW Ombudsman, only 18 people have been prosecuted over the allegations. And as a result, the Ombudsman has called for a specialist law enforcement unit to have jurisdiction over vulnerable people, such as people with a cognitive disability and the elderly. The Ombudsman stated this must be an agency equipped to play a lead role in addressing the critical issue of abuse and neglect of adults with a disability in NSW.