Legal Issues

Class action launched by Echo Law against Bupa Aged Care

After seeking interested parties for nearly 12 months, class action specialist Echo Law has launched proceedings against one of Australia’s largest providers, Bupa Aged Care, on behalf of residents between 1 July 2019 and 11 April 2025.

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Caroline Egan

17 Apr 2025

Legal Issues

Retirement living residents living in Cairns Regional Council face 800% rate increases

The council proposes in the 2025/26 financial year, the minimum general rate for one dwelling would be applied to each unit in a retirement village, as opposed to charging the village as one dwelling as has been the case. Oak Tree Retirement Village...

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Ian Horswill

07 Apr 2025

Legal Issues

Operators and residents urged to have a say on SA’s proposed regulations for new Retirement Villages (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2024

Stakeholder feedback will help shape the proposed amendments to the state’s Retirement Villages Regulations 2017. Key changes include: Improved transparency in contracts and disclosure statements for prospective residents; Enhanced codes of...

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Ian Horswill

07 Apr 2025

Legal Issues

ACT workshop: Government requires retirement living operators have elder abuse strategy in place from 27 May

ACT Discrimination, Health Services, Disability and Community Services Commissioner Karen Toohey will be at Goodwin Aged Care Services on Wednesday for the second successive week talking to retirement living operators about the territory’s...

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Ian Horswill

07 Apr 2025

Legal Issues

Public Prosecutor to appeal Kristian White sentence over Clare Nowland death

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has indicated it will challenge the sentence handed down to former NSW Senior Constable Kristian White last week for the manslaughter of 95-year-old aged care resident Clare Nowland. Last...

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Caroline Egan

03 Apr 2025

Legal Issues

Former police officer avoids jail for Taser death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland

Four months after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Clare Nowland, Yallambee Lodge aged care resident in Cooma, former NSW Senior Constable Kristian White has walked free from court following his sentencing hearing.

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Lauren Broomham

28 Mar 2025

Legal Issues

Adder Holdings, owner of Harbour Pines retirement village, Geraldton, WA, taken to court over signed and paid contract

The son of a woman who had paid to live in a retirement village, 424km north of Perth, which operates under the state’s strata laws, has lodged a claim in the District Court of Western Australia against the operator. Retired nurse Barbara Allen...

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Ian Horswill

24 Mar 2025

Legal Issues

MinterEllison: a suite of tools to help providers transition to the new Aged Care Act

With the commencement of the new Aged Care Act 2024 on 1 July 2025, providers will need to make preparations to meet their obligations under the new legislative framework.

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Caroline Egan

20 Mar 2025

Legal Issues

Mbark hopes by May to have clarity on its 10-year bid to build retirement village in Canberra

In November last year, Mbark was given conditional approval of a lease variation by the ACT Government to build the retirement village of 125 dwellings (77 houses and 48 units in six three-storey blocks) on 6ha of the club’s golf course

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Ian Horswill

10 Feb 2025

Legal Issues

Victorian retirement living operators need to consider financial and operating models under new laws: Rosemary Southgate, Russell Kennedy

Rosemary Southgate, Principal, Property and Development, Russell Kennedy, said the full extent of Victoria’s Retirement Villages Amendment Bill 2024, expected to be passed in early 2025, is still unknown. “Changes to the pre contract disclosure...

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Ian Horswill

03 Feb 2025

Legal Issues

75-year-old former nurse charged with alleged murder of roommate, 88, at WA aged care home

Suzanne Margaret Lupica, 75, a former nurse, has been charged with allegedly murdering Lilian Catherine Donnelly, 88, who was living with dementia. The pair had only been sharing a room for four days when the alleged murder took place about 4.20am...

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Caroline Egan

30 Jan 2025

Government Policy

NSW Coroner makes no recommendations against Anglicare Sydney after inquest into Newmarch House COVID-19 resident deaths

Anglicare CEO Simon Miller again expressed his apologies to the families and friends of the 19 residents who died at the aged care home in Kingswood, Penrith, 52km west of Sydney’s CBD, in what was then the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in Australi...

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Ian Horswill

30 Jan 2025

Legal Issues

After 10 tortuous years, Mbark’s proposed retirement village in Canberra held up again

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Ian Horswill

13 Jan 2025