ELDER ABUSE — 2019–20 STATE BUDGET
306. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing
the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
I refer to the ''National
Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians [Elder Abuse] 2019–23'',
released by the commonwealth Attorney-General last month.
(1) Noting the
minister's criticism of the commonwealth's funding for elder
abuse hotlines in an answer to a parliamentary question without notice on 20
March 2019, will he promise that the elder abuse section within the Department
of Communities—an agency with approximately 5 500 staff—will
increase to a level above the two individuals who have responsibility for
leading Western Australian government policy in this field?
(2) Will the minister properly fund
elder abuse mitigation strategies in the forthcoming state budget?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Communities has the ability to utilise its resources to respond
to key priorities as required. Responding to elder abuse is a whole-of-government
priority and responsibility that is also being worked on by other agencies.
(2) The state budget will be
announced in due course.