In 2021, in response to advocacy from Justice Connect’s Seniors Law and the broader legal sector, the Victorian and NSW Governments made permanent legislative changes to permit remote witnessing of legal documents by audio visual link.
The COVID-19 pandemic placed older people at increased risk of elder abuse due to increased isolation away from community support systems. Growing pressure on adult children caused by job, housing, and financial insecurity also strained their relationships with their older parents.
The National Elder Abuse Prevalence study released in December 2021 confirmed that having legal documents in place, such as a Will, an Enduring Power of Attorney, an Appointment of Enduring Guardian (in New South Wales) and an Appointment of Medical Treatment Decision Maker (in Victoria), were effective tools to prevent and respond to elder abuse.
It is for this reason that assisting older clients to execute and revoke these legal documents forms an integral part of the work of our Seniors Law program.
Previously, lawyers were required to be physically present to witness the making or revoking of these documents. This became impossible when COVID-19 restrictions were put in place that prevented lawyers from meeting with their clients physically.
This legislative change gives people, who live in regional areas or for whom accessing legal services is difficult due to family commitments, disability, transport, or limited financial resources, the ability to execute and revoke these documents.
After careful monitoring of our older client insights and casework data during the initial phase of COVID-19, in April 2020 we published a position paper to advocate for changes in New South Wales legislation. As a result, the COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 (NSW) allowed for remote witnessing as temporary response to COVID 19.
In March 2021, the Victorian Parliament passed the Justice Legislation Amendment (System Enhancements and Other Matters) Bill 2021 (Vic), which made permanent two important changes:
From November 2021, in response to this advocacy from Justice Connect and the wider sector, the NSW Government passed the Electronic Transactions Amendment (Remote Witnessing) Bill 2021 (NSW), which also made temporary measures permitting the remote witnessing of legal documents by audio visual link permanent.
We help people who are facing complex legal problems that arise from elder abuse.
We reach out to people at risk and help older people navigate the legal system to ensure they feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect.
“Your donation helps build tools and services that connect more people with legal help, so we can close the justice gap.”
– Gillian Triggs, Justice Connect Patron