The Malinauskas Government will introduce the Ageing and Adult Safeguarding (Review Recommendations) Amendment Bill 2025 to the South Australian Parliament.
The proposed legislation is designed to enhance protections for adults at risk of abuse and strengthen the safeguarding of their rights.
The Bill implements key recommendations from an independent review conducted by the South Australian Law Reform Institute. It includes significant reforms aimed at improving the operation and effectiveness of existing laws.
This legislative response also addresses growing public concern following several high-profile cases of elder abuse in South Australia and across the nation—cases that have deeply disturbed many Australians and underscored the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards.
Key changes include:
strengthening the role of the Office for Ageing Well
expanding the powers of the Adult Safeguarding Unit to respond to serious cases of financial and criminal abuse
providing a broader range of safeguarding actions to protect people at risk
adopting a “no wrong door” approach to streamline referrals to police and complaint bodies
giving the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) authority to issue orders, replacing the current role of the Magistrate’s Court