Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, the Honourable Luke Donnellan. This entire October we are celebrating our seniors with the Victorian Seniors Festival. More than 2500 free or low-cost events across the state are going on. From 6 to 13 October seniors were also able to enjoy a week of free travel statewide. The seniors festival is a great opportunity to bring attention to many problems our elders face every day. Elder abuse is one of those problems. Elder abuse can affect anyone, irrespective of background, gender or ethnicity. Research from Australia and overseas shows that around 5 per cent of older people may be experiencing elder abuse. The Andrews Labor government funds Senior Rights Victoria, a free helpline, legal, advocacy and referral service. The Andrews Labor government also funds the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria to work in partnership with Seniors Rights Victoria to raise community awareness of elder abuse in ethnic communities. The action I seek is for the minister to visit a seniors group in my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region and explain what the Andrews Labor government’s priorities are for the seniors of our community.
RESPONSE:
Mr DONNELLAN (Narre Warren North—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers) (5 February 2020):
I thank the honourable member for Western Metropolitan for the invitation to visit to a seniors group in her electorate. I would be very pleased to join the local member for such an event to explain the government’s priorities for seniors, including the Respect older people—call it out elder abuse campaign developed by Respect Victoria, which I was pleased to launch in June this year.