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Droppert, Graham --- "President's page: Care, dignity and respect" [2021] PrecedentAULA 14; (2021) 163 Precedent 3


CARE, DIGNITY AND RESPECT

By Graham Droppert SC

All around Australia, living on the lands of the Anangu, Koori, Murri, Nunga, Palawa, Noongar, Yamatji, Mer and that of many other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we can appreciate the great richness of the longest continuous culture on Earth. I acknowledge that the land I live on is and always has been the land of First Nations peoples. I pay my respects to the Elders – past, present and emerging – throughout Australia.

In many ways it looked like an optimistic start to 2021, with COVID-19 case numbers down in Australia and vaccines on the way. There was increasing recognition of the need to look out for friends and neighbours. The 2021 ALA conference and seminar programs were in development, offering the real prospect of spending time together. Mining companies expressed commitment to ensuring that there would be no further destruction of significant First Nations cultural sites. The economy was doing better than many had predicted. Sport was back on – even international events. The bushfire season in NSW and Victoria had passed without the destruction experienced in 2019–2020.

However, there were also some darker clouds. The Arts had been left high and dry by COVID-19. Many tourism and hospitality businesses were hanging on by a thread. Demand for psychological support services was higher than ever. Domestic and family violence continued, with at least one woman each week killed by a domestic partner.[1] Western Australia experienced some severe bushfires with much property and wildlife destruction. It was taking longer than expected to get the Australian citizens and residents still stranded overseas home. Government income support programs were ending, bringing uncertainty and stress. New strains of COVID-19 were making their way into Australia.

Then a number of shocking events involving federal Parliament emerged. The sexual assault and abuse of women has again been thrust into the public arena. The toll on the women involved has been enormous and overwhelming but their courage to speak out is inspiring.

Although it seemed for a moment that ending the criminalisation of children under the age of 14 would be a priority, consensus on this issue is still yet to be reached.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has revealed the long-term and continuing failure to meet the most basic needs of our oldest citizens. As stated by Commissioner Briggs:

‘Life is to be lived. No matter how old we are, how frail or incapacitated we might be, how rich or poor, we all have the fundamental right to wellbeing, enjoyment and fulfilment as we age. In order for this aspiration to become reality, our aged care system must be founded on the principles of unfailing compassion – care, dignity and respect.’[2]

The words of the Royal Commission can also be applied to our young people, those experiencing family violence, First Nations peoples, refugees, those struggling with mental health and those experiencing homelessness.

These matters are not an exhaustive list of the challenges to meet and resolve but they highlight that we must make Australia a safer and fairer nation.

The real knowledge of what has corroded our civil society lies with the survivors and victims of exploitation, abuse and injustice. We must listen to their truths with care, dignity and respect. We must commit to acting where and when we can to support their calls for change.

Lawyers, judges and politicians do not hold the only keys to transforming how we treat each other, but we do have a part to play. The ALA and its members will continue to push at the closed doors and provide perspectives and insights from those who know what is needed.

We both welcome and need our members to make us more relevant and responsive in the pursuit of the rights of individuals to enjoy safe and fair workplaces, homes and communities. I look forward to joining you in that task.

Graham Droppert SC is a barrister practising from Albert Wolff Chambers, Perth, specialising in personal injury. PHONE (08) 9221 1544 EMAIL g.droppert@bigpond.com.


[1] K Fitz-Gibbon and M Segrave, ‘A women is still being killed each week in Australia’, The Guardian, 1 March 2021, <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/01/a-woman-is-still-being-killed-each-week-in-australia-we-need-federal-leadership>.

[2] Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Final Report: Care, Dignity and Respect (Report, 1 March 2021) 58.


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