Pensioner Michael Burles remembered for his fighting spirit over guardianship laws

A Tasmanian pensioner is being remembered as a hero after his heart-wrenching story spearheaded the campaign to reform Tasmania’s “abhorrent” guardianship laws. Tributes for Michael Burles.

Michael Burles was a resident at Glenview Aged Care in Glenorchy. Picture: Zak Simmonds

A Tasmanian pensioner whose heart-wrenching story spearheaded the campaign to reform Tasmania’s “abhorrent” guardianship laws is being remembered as a “real life hero”.

Michael Burles, 73, who died on Tuesday, took the Public Trustee to court seeking $5454 he had paid in funeral insurance.

The case was settled before it could be heard.

His lawyer Ben Bartl paid tribute to his tenacity while Advocacy Tasmania CEO Leanne Groombridge said Mr Burles’ “appalling treatment” took a huge toll on his health.

Mr Bartl said Mr Burles’ case highlighted the failure of the Public Trustee to comply with its statutory duties and “act in the best interests of their clients”.

“It is a testament to Michael’s fighting spirit that he was prepared to take his case to the Supreme Court to ensure that a precedent was set and so that no-one else would ever have to experience the same breach of statutory duty,” he said.

Michael Burles was a public trustee client. Mr Burles is pictured with advocate Ginny Tombs from Advocacy Tasmania and lawyer Ben Bartl. Picture: supplied

Ms Groombridge said he bravely told his story to the Sunday Tasmanian and “his appalling treatment got the fire in our collective bellies and kicked off our quest for guardianship and administration reform”.

“Mick’s inhumane treatment touched us all and the injustices and abuses he endured were the catalyst for our campaign to reform this abhorrent system,” she said.

“He was a real-life hero – a proud battler who never gave up the fight.

“He bravely told his story to the Sunday Tasmanian, even though he could have been fined or ended up in jail under gag provisions.

“He wanted to make sure no other Tasmanian would end up in a similar situation. “

He will be missed.”

Mr Burles, a painter for 50 years, ended up in hospital after a fall at his Rose Bay home and he was placed on a guardianship and administration order before being moved permanently to a nursing home.

“He lost contact with his precious dog, his belongings were sold off and they cancelled his funeral plan he had been paying into for 11 years,” Ms Groombridge said.

“As Mick said in the story, ‘they never even left me a cup’.

“No person should suffer at the hands of this abhorrent system as Mick did.

“He will be missed.”

The state’s guardianship laws have now been changed.