• WA Liberals to urgently legislate changes to protect elderly Western Australians.

• In addition, a Judicial Commission will be created to restore trust in the legal system.

• WA Liberals will make these a priority after 8 years of inaction by WA Labor.

A Mettam Liberal Government will expedite reforms to protect older Western Australians and introduce a Judicial Commission to restore faith in WA’s legal system, according to Libby Mettam and Nick Goiran.

“Elder abuse is a real and present danger, affecting at least 1 in 20 older Western Australians,” said Libby Mettam, WA Liberal Leader.

“Labor made an election commitment almost a decade ago to change the laws around enduring powers of attorney and guardianship to protect older Western Australians, and still they have done nothing.

“While WA Labor has sat on its hands, the WA Liberals have continuously fought for these reforms in Parliament every single year.

“Action on this issue cannot wait any longer – older people deserve respect – which is why we will truly expedite these long overdue reforms.”

Shadow Attorney General, Nick Goiran, said Labor had been missing in action when it came to delivering Elder Abuse reforms for Western Australians.

“Ten years ago, a blueprint was prepared in the form of a statutory report on the Guardianship and Administration Act to change the laws surrounding enduring powers of attorney and guardianship,” said Mr Goiran.

“Labor’s commitment in 2017 was to ‘expedite’ those changes. Every year since we have raised the issue in Parliament, including through the establishment of a Select Committee into Elder Abuse which I had the honour of chairing.

“The WA Labor Government have broken trust by promising to ‘expedite’ these changes only to keep kicking the can down the road month after month, year after year.

“That is why the WA Liberals will implement the recommendations contained in the 2015 Statutory Review as a matter of urgency.

“Our reforms will include changes to enduring powers of attorney and guardianship to prevent misuse, improve transparency, and ensure we have the right safeguards.

“The WA Liberals are determined to empower older Western Australians and provide families with confidence that their loved ones are protected.”

A Mettam Liberal Government will also invest $4 million per year to establish a judicial commission.

“In WA, no complaint against a judicial officer is ever independently investigated,” said Ms Mettam.

“Under Labor’s watch, allegations of bullying, evidence tampering, and inappropriate conduct have been levelled at judicial officers, highlighting the need for a mechanism to independently investigate these concerns.

“Unfortunately, the current complaints process in Western Australia lacks transparency and damages the public’s confidence that complaints will be dealt with impartially.

“That’s why we will take action and finally implement the Judicial Commission Western Australians are owed.”

Mr Goiran said the establishment of a Judicial Commission was yet another example of WA Labor sitting on its hands.

“Labor’s conga line of spokesmen has been left exposed as hollow men having promised to establish a judicial commission in 2013, 2016, 2021, 2022, and again in 2024,” said Mr Goiran.

“This is not a novel concept – NSW established its judicial commission over thirty years ago, and Victoria’s was established when WA Labor first promised theirs.

“Importantly, a Judicial Commission will help courts achieve consistency in sentencing, while giving the public the right to have their complaints dealt with transparently and impartially.

“We believe an independent Judicial Commission is essential to maintaining the rule of law and will help restore public faith in the legal system.

“Only by finally introducing independent oversight, can we ensure our judiciary is held to the highest standards of fairness, integrity, and accountability.”

“This shameful track record on elder abuse and a judicial commission demonstrate two things: the Cook Labor Government have had the wrong priorities and when they say they will do something they simply cannot be trusted” concluded Mr Goiran.