Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that yesterday, 15 June 2020, was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which represents the one day each year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on older people;

(b) acknowledges that the sexual abuse of older women in residential aged care and home care settings is a form of elder abuse that has long been ignored; and

(c) calls on all Governments to:

  (i) work together to better respond to all forms of elder abuse, including physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, social abuse, financial abuse, sexual abuse and elder neglect,

  (ii) improve reporting requirements and data collection on elder abuse, and

  (iii) develop national strategies informed by best practice evidence for the prevention of sexual abuse in both residential aged care and home care settings.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Morrison government is committed to ending any abuse of Australian seniors in all its forms, including in aged care. That's why we developed the National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019-2023 in consultation with the states and territories. It's also why one of the Prime Minister's first acts was to call the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. We've led action to protect senior Australians in aged-care settings, including by committing to the Serious Incident Response Scheme.

Question agreed to.