Public Advocate reappointed for three years

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine today announced that Brisbane barrister Michelle Howard had been reappointed as Public Advocate until 2010.

Mr Shine said the Public Advocate played a vital role in improving the systems and facilities provided to support people with impaired capacity to make decisions.

“Ms Howard has a long track record of protecting the more vulnerable members of our society from abuse, neglect and exploitation,” Mr Shine said.

“Before taking on the responsibilities of Public Advocate last year, she had worked with the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal, Mental Health Tribunal, Children Services Tribunal and Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal.”

“These roles provided her with first-hand knowledge of the many issues and difficulties faced by people with impaired capacity, their families and carers, as well as the service providers who support them.”

“The role of Public Advocate is always challenging and often highly sensitive. Ms Howard’s professional credentials as a barrister and solicitor will also be of considerable assistance in fulfilling her responsibilities over the next three years.”

The Public Advocate, like the Adult Guardian, is concerned with protecting the rights and interests of people with impaired capacity.

However, unlike the Adult Guardian, the Public Advocate does not deal with individual cases. Rather, she looks at institutional and systemic deficiencies that may affect a large number of people with impaired capacity.

For example, while the Adult Guardian might obtain a warrant to remove a person with impaired capacity who is being exploited by a carer, the Public Advocate would look at how the system failed that person and could be failing others in similar situations.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (Mr Shine’s office) 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au