NATIONAL MISSING PERSONS WEEK
Hyatt Hotel, Canberra
3 August 2009
First, may I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we meet on – and pay my respects to their elders, both past and present.
Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
His Excellency Mr Michael Bryce AM AE
Parliamentary colleagues
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
And in particular, families and friends of missing persons.
It’s an honour to be here.
I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank the loved ones of missing persons who have joined us for this occasion – and also, those of you who have experienced homelessness.
Missing Persons
The factors surrounding missing persons are complex.
Every year in Australia 35,000 people are reported missing.
That’s one person every 15 minutes.
And while 95 per cent of people are found within a short period of time – the remainder are missing for significantly longer periods.
A general perception in the community is that missing people are primarily young.
And while they are a key group at risk – so are older people – and they’re more likely to be missing for longer periods.
This is especially the case for older people with dementia.
The memory loss they experience as part of this condition puts them at an increased risk of going missing, becoming homeless and even endangering their lives.
With an ageing population, as the Governor-General outlined, the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease will increase – which may result in a higher incidence of older people going missing.
The Families
For those who have a loved one missing – the pain involved is often excruciating and very personal – and they are always searching for answers.
This year for the first time, we’re going to hear the stories of four families who have experienced a loved one missing.
And I am very appreciative of – and impressed with – their willingness to do so.
It takes a lot of courage to talk publicly about such a deeply personal and heartbreaking experience.
Can I say by doing so, I believe these families will help raise awareness of this social and community problem – with a view to reducing its likelihood.
Karen James and her two daughters have joined us today.
In March last year Karen’s father Leslie Hicks went missing – aged 81.
Since then Karen has worried every time it rains because she doesn’t want her father to be caught outside without shelter.
Nick and Jason Sallese have also joined us today.
Their father Nic went missing in November last year – aged 69.
Since then the Sallese brothers have been troubled by not knowing his whereabouts. And for example, at what point do they thank people for helping in the search for their father, who has yet to be found.
We also have Martin Vivian and his parents with us.
Martin has shared his experience of wondering how his mother could have disappeared in such a small community like King Island – and how community support and public vigilance is crucial to helping find missing persons.
The Wilson family are also here today who I had the great privilege of meeting – and I’d like to say a special thank you to them for being here and express my condolences for their loss and thank them for sharing their story with the Australian public.
The uncertainty about a missing person’s whereabouts and welfare is extremely stressful for loved ones.
But by speaking up, these families are raising community awareness with a view to finding better ways to keep our family, family members and loved ones safe.
Homelessness
Likewise, it’s very important that we raise awareness about homelessness and the causal links between older people with dementia and the increased likelihood of going missing and becoming homeless.
Each night in Australia, as the Prime Minister has said on a number of occasions, it is estimated that 105,000 people are homeless.
And some 16,000 people experience ‘primary’ homelessness – that is living on the street or improvised shelters.
This is a very sad state of affairs – and one that must be addressed.
And this brings me to why we are here today.
Conclusion
This year National Missing Persons Week is joining National Homeless Persons Week and asking the key question where do they go?
I wish every success for this national advertising campaign.
I hope it provides some long desired answers and most importantly reunites families and loved ones.
A special thanks must go to all involved in bringing this campaign together – it’s been a great team effort. The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre of the Australian Federal Police, I thank you. Along with Alzheimer’s Australia and Homelessness Australia.
Our State and Territory police forces deal with such tragic cases every day and work with State Alzheimer’s Australia agencies to implement the safe return programs.
The Australian Government hope that the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre and our combined efforts go some way to making their work more effective and fruitful.
It is now my great pleasure, along with the Governor-General, to assist with the launch of the National Missing Persons Week campaign for 2009.
Please join me in watching two of this year’s campaign segments.
