GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO THE OLDER PEOPLE AND THE LAW REPORT

ATTORNEY-GENERAL
THE HON ROBERT McCLELLAND MP

MINISTER FOR AGEING
THE HON JUSTINE ELLIOT MP
26 November 2009
GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO THE OLDER PEOPLE AND THE LAW REPORT

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today tabled the Australian Government’s response to the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s Older People and the Law Report.

The Committee’s Report contains 48 recommendations addressing a range of legal issues facing older Australians, including fraud and financial abuse, powers of attorney, advance health care planning, guardianship and administration, family agreements, barriers to older Australians accessing legal services, age discrimination and retirement villages.

“The Report highlights the importance of the need for governments, at all levels, to ensure their policies and laws adequately meet the needs of older Australians,” Mr McClelland said.

The Government’s response to the Report highlights the action the Government has taken to address the Report’s recommendations, including:

·         development of a dedicated section on the ASIC website to provide older Australians with advice on their financial needs, including superannuation investments, reverse mortgages and a toolkit to help plan for retirement, available at www.fido.gov.au

·         information for older Australians on issues which affect their security such as financial literacy

·         removal of the ‘dominant reason’ test from the Age Discrimination Act 2004; and

·         a commitment to promote mutual recognition provisions in powers of attorney legislation across Australia.

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot welcomed the report and said: “We are committed to meeting the challenges of our ageing population, allowing older Australians to live with maximum dignity and maximum independence.”

The Committee’s recommendations also deal with a number of matters that fall within the responsibility of the States and Territories. The Government will ensure that these recommendations are brought to the attention of the relevant body in all jurisdictions.

The Report can be found at www.aph.gov.au

Media Contact:                       Daniel Gleeson (McClelland)                         0409 562 425
                                                Kathryn Conroy (Elliot)                                0448 249 447

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GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO THE OLDER PEOPLE AND THE LAW REPORT