Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch MP has today expressed serious concerns regarding the Queensland Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). These concerns follow a number of particularly concerning cases handled by the OPG that were raised with Mr Entsch in recent weeks.
Mr Entsch said that the Public Guardian has been stonewalling his efforts to assist constituents who have legitimate grievances with the OPG. “They’re accountable to no one and won’t even entertain the prospect of a meaningful conversation with me, let alone the poor people who are subject to their control.”
“I like many people would have seen quite a number of reports over the years about the OPG, they’re shrouded in secrecy, the NDIS can’t even get them to talk to them about their client’s needs—it’s just bureaucratic madness on steroids.”
“In all my years in this job, I’ve never seen an agency behave in this way, no accountability, total contempt towards anyone who questions their authority or the decisions they’re making.”
Mr Entsch has issued this warning to the public about leaving their loved one’s affairs at the discretion of the Office of the Public Guardian. “In my view, they’re a publicly funded parasite that drains the assets of the people they purport to serve—it’s shameful and I would advise anyone thinking of engaging them in any way, shape or form to seriously reconsider.”
This is not the first-time concerns have been raised about the way the Office of the Public Guardian handles the affairs of its clients. Previous reports have indicated that those under guardianship orders are unable to speak out publicly and often face significant financial repercussions in attempting to remove orders imposed upon them. The OPG has total and absolute control once they are engaged and can even use a person’s own material and financial resources to fight against them in legal proceedings related to the removal of a guardianship order.
“Once you are in, you are trapped. You have no recourse, no one can advocate for you, not your family, not even your State or Federal Member of Parliament, we’re totally locked out and kept in the dark—it’s a disgrace and it needs to change,” Mr Entsch said.
