Last year the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Legislative Assembly passed the Crimes (Offences Against Vulnerable People) Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (the Act). This followed an extensive consultation across a broad range of stakeholders. 

This week, the Justice and Community Services (JACS Directorate) released a series of resources to assist organisations with the education and preparation prior to the commencement of the Act. 

About the ACT Crimes Legislation Amendment Act

The Crimes (Offences Against Vulnerable People) Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (the Act) was notified as an amending Act on 20 August 2020. The Act introduced three new offences:

1. Abuse of a vulnerable person, which criminalises abusive conduct by a person who is responsible for the care of a vulnerable person. The conduct must result in harm to the vulnerable person or a financial benefit to the abuser or someone associated with them, and the abuser must be reckless as to causing the harm or obtaining the benefit.
2. Failure to protect a vulnerable person from criminal offence, which criminalises the failure of a person in authority within an institution to protect the vulnerable people in their care.
3. Neglect of a vulnerable person, which criminalises the neglect of a vulnerable person by a person who is responsible for the vulnerable person’s care

The Act also introduces new factors for consideration when sentencing if the victim of a crime was a vulnerable person.

Read more and access resources 

You can read more about this legislation amendment, and access the resources, at the NDS website.