Missing persons unit to help families

THE Liberal Party has promised to spare families and friends of missing Victorians the “bureaucratic nightmare” of managing their loved ones’ financial affairs if it wins November’s state election.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy yesterday pledged $1.2 million over four years for a three-member full-time team to help manage the financial affairs of missing persons and support their families.

Geelong’s Loren O’Keeffe, who founded the Missing Persons Advocacy Network after her brother Dan went missing seven years ago said dealing with red tape added to the stress of not knowing a loved one’s fate.

“Ambiguous loss is considered the most stressful type of grief and the last thing families in that position need is the bureaucratic nightmare that goes with having a loved one’s bills and registration ongoing,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

Mr Guy said the dedicated unit would help ease the burden for Victorians dealing with a missing loved one.

“Government has to have a heart in Victoria when it comes to the families and friends who are missing. Simply leaving it to the courts to resolve for years and years and years at huge cost is not fair,” Mr Guy said yesterday.

“There is nothing more traumatic for a family than dealing with the heartache of not knowing what has happened to their family member and then dealing with the headache of financial and legal woes that have been left behind — this unit will help solve those issues.”

The unit would provide practical assistance to people with missing loved ones, including referrals, support, information about managing financial affairs and community education.