THE NEED FOR AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL LAW REFORM TO PROTECT ELDERLY AUSTRALIANS AGAINST ABUSE

Abstract

The Australian Bureau of Statistics have reported that Australia’s population is ageing at an incremental rate, and a recent National Prevalence Study into elder abuse found that a significant proportion of those older Australians are experiencing abuse. While it is important to recognise that older people are not inherently vulnerable, it is equally important to acknowledge the fact that many instances of abuse are falling through the cracks. Older people with distinct vulnerabilities, are at particular risk, and it is the right of every older Australian to age with dignity, respect, and to be afforded adequate protection from abuse. Despite the existence of criminal laws applicable to abuses including physical, social, psychological, and financial, very few matters relating to abuse of older people are prosecuted. This paper provides an overview of the legal framework in which abuse of older adults currently operates in Australia. It proposes that discrete criminal offences should be introduced to protect older adults who are reliant on others for their care, and who have a distinct vulnerability.