Time for action on elder financial abuse: ABA's Anna Bligh

GUEST OBSERVATION

The banking industry, along with the Council of the Ageing and National Seniors, are calling on all the nation’s Attorneys General to agree their COAG meeting tomorrow to key changes which will empower bank staff to help detect and prevent elder financial abuse.

At the beginning of this year the banking industry, along with seniors group, called on the Federal Government to take the lead on these important changes to help bank staff tackle elder financial abuse. Key changes are a standardisation of power of attorney orders, a national online register and a designated body to report abuse.

In this year’s federal budget the Government announced funding for a national online register and an intent to seek agreement from states and territories for a standardisation of power of attorney orders.

The Australian Banking Association along as the Council of the Ageing and National Seniors had written to each Attorney General urging them for a decisive outcome in order to empower bank staff to tackle this growing problem.

Every year in Australia older people are the victim of financial crimes, and while we often see terrible stories about elderly people being robbed, we very rarely get any insight into a far more silent and sinister crime being committed against older Australians – financial abuse.

Financial abuse is a serious and far reaching problem that can happen to anyone, but some people, like the elderly, people with a disability or other vulnerable and isolated people are at greater risk. 

Increased house prices and reasonable superannuation balances can mean that some older people are in a good financial position. For some adult children, this leads to what some refer to as inheritance impatience.

Seniors advocacy groups and the banking industry are united in their determination to see action on this problem.

Australia needs a standardisation of power of attorney orders, which are logged onto an online register and a legally protected body were elder financial abuse can be reported.

Elder financial abuse can of course be reported to police directly however it’s often hard as those involved are often close family and friends.

Tomorrow state and territory governments have an opportunity to join with the federal government and agree to tackle these changes.

We can’t keep drawing this out – all governments need to decide and act to ensure that Australia addresses this growing issue.

Anna Bligh is the CEO of the Australian Banking Association and is the former Premier of Queensland.