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about COTA NS| sitemap | links | media releases and press articles | policy and information | publications | State and Territory COTAs | national seniors association | what's new | feedback |
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11 December 2002
| The Commonwealth Minister for Ageing, Kevin Andrews, (seated,
centre) was guest of honour at the formal launch of the COTA National
Seniors Partnership and signing of the Partnership Agreement, at 11 am
today (AESST) in Parliament House, Canberra.
Jim Giles, President of COTA (right) and Everald Compton, Chairman of National Seniors (left), signed on behalf of the two organisations. Ian Yates from COTA (standing right) and David Deans from National Seniors (standing left) will be the new joint Chief Executives. |
 |
Other officials and members from both organisations, and politicians from both sides of parliament, attended the launch.It is a major step along the path to an eventual merger of the two leading seniors organisations in Australia.
With its combined individual and organisational membership representing all aspects of Australian seniors interests, COTA National Seniors Partnership will have a pre-eminent role in representing, advocating for and serving older people throughout Australia.
COTA National Seniors is now by far the largest seniors organisation in Australia with more than 270,000 individual members and over 1500 seniors organisations under its umbrella. It will offer members a vast range of services and benefits and an influential vehicle for contributing to policy debates affecting older people in Australia.
The Partnership, effective from 11 December 2002, will join the State and Territory COTAs, COTA Membership Services and COTA Australia with National Seniors into a joint national operation that will merge and share various operations of the eleven organisations.
COTA National Seniors will develop Policy Councils in every state and territory, and at national level. These Policy Councils will provide a forum to discuss issues raised and resolutions proposed by the joint membership, identify areas requiring investigation and research, and decide COTA National Seniors policy on matters of concern to Australia's older people.
The combined COTA National Seniors Membership Services will continue to provide value insurance, financial and other membership services to members. Members of each organisation are already receiving a regular national magazine, 50 Something, and newsletter.
2 December 2002
The Council on the Ageing has come in behind the Treasurer and Minister Vanstone in promptly rejecting a leaked Finance Department proposal canvassing the idea of increasing the age pension eligibility age to 70.
"Calls for an increase in pension age miss the point," says Ms Patricia Reeve, Director Policy Secretariat of the Council today.
"The average age of retirement is around 58. Most people leave jobs because they have to rather than want to.
"At the moment around 50 per cent of people going on to an age pension are already on some form of social welfare payment. The labour force participation rate for people aged 55 to 64 is about 49 per cent.
"The fact is that the jobs market for people over 50 and especially over 55 remains extremely tough. Age discrimination remains a serious issue for many older workers.
"Raising the age pension age would achieve nothing. People will just be forced on to other social security payments and to use up retirement savings. It would also cause undue stress and hardship.
"Australia needs to create more opportunities for people to remain in employment for as long as they choose. We need to create opportunities for phased retirement, we need to combat age discrimination and we need to focus on providing the training that mature age people need to get jobs.
"COTA congratulates the Treasurer and Minister Vanstone for promptly dismissing the Finance Department proposal.
"But we do need to create more opportunities and choice for mature age people in regards to paid employment. This may mean that more people will want to keep working beyond age pension age anyway," concluded Ms Reeve.
13 November 2002
The Council on the Ageing has responded to Minister Vanstone's questions about age discrimination in the job market. COTA's response follows an interview on Radio National this morning when the Minister repeatedly questioned the interviewer about the extent of age discrimination in the labour market and whether there was a smaller pool of jobs for mature age people.
"It is surprising that the Minister needs an update in this area given the Federal Government's concern about the low participation of mature age people in the workforce," said Veronica Sheen, deputy director, at Council on the Ageing.
"The facts of the matter are as follows:
"The Government is preparing to introduce Federal Age Discrimination Legislation. The Minister for Ageing, Kevin Andrews has identified the need to increase mature age employment as a key response to Australia's ageing population. The Minister's own Department is very concerned about the extent of welfare reliance - around 30 per cent - amongst people aged 50-64.
"There has been some recent improvements in job prospects for mature age people but there is little question that age discrimination is still an endemic problem and that mature age people find it difficult to find jobs. There would be few researchers - and few mature age job seekers - in Australia who would dispute this," concluded Ms Sheen.
NB Veronica Sheen has recently returned from a Churchill Fellowship to study ageing workforce policies and programs overseas. Response to age discrimination was one focus of her study tour.
11 November 2002
Ms Patricia Reeve has been appointed to the newly created position of Director, National Policy Secretariat of Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA A). She was previously the Executive Director of COTA Victoria.
COTAs are in the process of forming a Partnership with National Seniors Association (NSA) which will make the new organisation the second largest membership based organisation in Australia.
The Director of the National Policy Secretariat position was created as part of the new Partnership.
Under the Partnership new Policy Councils are to be established in each State and Territory. They will be made up of 20-30 older persons on each Council. In turn they will each appoint two members to a new National Policy Council.
The National Policy Secretariat will work closely with the Policy Councils to develop Partnership policies based on members' input, and provide leadership and expertise on ageing issues.
"I have a long term commitment to social justice and participatory democracy, and am delighted to be in a new position to progress these objectives at a national level," Patricia Reeve said when commenting on her appointment.
"The new Policy Councils of the Partnership are an exciting opportunity to ensure a strong voice for older people," she said.
"COTA/ National Seniors Partnership will be working to advance policies and programs to benefit older people. We have led the national debate on the problems of mature aged employment. We also already research and advocate in many policy areas such as: - taking forward the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia, strengthening the retirement income system, boosting the public health system, building up public dental health services, preserving the integrity of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, improving access to information and communications technology, strengthening residential aged care, ensuring access to community care, and very importantly, protecting the revenue base through a progressive taxation system."
4th September 2002
Council on the Ageing has welcomed the establishment of a national telephone service, Medicines Line, to give consumers independent information about medicines.
The Medicines Line is a national information and referral service providing people with access to independent, accurate and up-to-date information about medicines (prescription, over-the-counter, and complementary - including herbal remedies).
By phoning 1300 888 763 any member of the general public can ask a health professional (an experienced drug information specialist or clinical pharmacologist) about medicine related questions.
All callers will be encouraged to discuss the information provided with their own doctor or community pharmacist. Callers will be offered an additional service whereby a copy of the information provided will be forwarded to their general practitioner or community pharmacist.
Older people and those with a chronic illness have been identified as the major users and beneficiaries of such a service. Many of them take more than one medicine and may be confused about how they might interact with each other.
The Medicines Line will
The Medicines Line will not
The Medicines Line national telephone service will be provided by the National Prescribing Service (NPS), an independent Australian organisation supporting Quality Use of Medicines. The NPS already works in partnership with GPs, pharmacists, specialists, other health professionals, Government, industry and consumers to improve the health of all Australians.
Just a local call
The Medicines Line will be accessible for the cost of a local call Australia wide. It will operate Monday to Friday, 9am to 12 pm and 3pm-6pm AEST, except for national public holidays. The hours between 12-3pm will be used to respond to voice mail messages left by callers who were not able to get through initially.
Callers will be put through to an automated menu service and given a number of options that will direct them to a staff member who can help them with their enquiry.
Health professionals will answer the incoming calls, provide appropriate medicines information and /or recommend referrals as the call warrants.
Unanswered calls will be placed in a 'call-waiting'queue with a recorded message and an option to leave a voice message. The 'call-in-waiting' will end with an alert after four minutes if no operators are available nor any options selected.
COTA support
COTA has long called for an independent quality service to give advice to consumers, especially older Australians about all forms of medicines. COTA has supported the National Prescribing Service, as an independent organisation supporting Quality Use of Medicines, as the ideal body to provide this service.
Consumers are bombarded with promotional hype- both good and bad- about pharmaceuticals and they have no immediate way of checking whether this information is true or false, whether it applies to medication they are taking, or what they should do if they are concerned.
Medicines Line will provide unbiased and factual information and will encourage the better and responsible use of medicines by increasing public awareness about medicines.
It will encourage the use of medicines that is appropriate, judicious, safe, effective and cost-effective.
8 August 2002
The Treasurer's speech to the Australian Financial Review Leader's Luncheon on the Paths to Increasing Australia's Prosperity is right in canvassing increased workforce participation for mature age people as an important component in Australia's long term economic prospects, according to Council on the Ageing.
"COTA has done extensive analysis of the effects of increased workforce participation based on OECD and Australian research. It is clear that increasing participation of older people has a very important effect on economic growth", said Veronica Sheen, COTA deputy director and author of the speech the Economics of the Ageing Population, delivered at a conference held by the Committee of Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) in 2001. (http://www.cota.org.au/economic.htm#Economics of the ageing population)
"We are delighted that the Treasurer recognises the issue of Australia's ageing workforce which we identified at least 3 years ago as fundamental to:
"The United States has a much better record in terms of keeping older people in work than Australia. We need to have a look at how they manage this," says Veronica Sheen.
Veronica Sheen commences a Churchill Fellowship to study ageing workforce policy and older workers programs in the United States and Europe on 12 August for 10 weeks.
Veronica will be visiting key agencies in the United States and Europe including as the US National Older Workers Career Center and the UK Third Age Employment Network.
"These organisations have a long background in working on policies and programs for older workers. There may be lessons for Australia for our policies and programs," says Veronica Sheen.
Veronica will be reporting back on her findings on a regular basis. For information on contact details please ring COTA on 03 9820 2655.
2 August 2002
COTA commends Westpac's commitment to employing people 55 and over in its customer service areas. The initiative is a welcome move for both improving employment opportunities for older people and improving customer service.
"A recent project at COTA has documented the frustration felt by many older workers with employer attitudes and behaviour in hiring and firing practices. Discrimination in employment on the basis of age is an increasingly outmoded and anti-social practice in terms of Australia's ageing workforce and ageing population," says Veronica Sheen, COTA's deputy director.
"In addition, it is also bad for business. Older people tell us all the time how much they dislike dealing with younger staff who are insensitive to their needs, don't understand their issues and problems and who simply do not provide the level of service mature age people want. It is time Australia recognises, as British retailers like Tesco have, the reliability and excellent customer relation skills offered by mature age workers.
"Companies that are astute enough to meet the needs and preferences of older Australians will find them a lucrative and growing market. The use of older workers is part of this strategy, and must be encouraged to ensure Australia's maximum economic viability.
"Banks have been amongst the worst offenders in downsizing policies, often targeting their senior workers. They will need to work hard to regain their credibility with the older population. The Westpac initiative is a good start," concluded Ms Sheen.
18 July 2002
Pensions, private savings, plus health and pharmaceutical benefits are all vital in ensuring an adequate retirement income and quality of life. They should not be sacrificed to pay for superannuation tax cuts, the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia has told a Senate Inquiry into Superannuation.
Such tradeoffs have already started with recent Budget plans to cut pharmaceutical benefits and disability benefits. COTA claims this in its submission to the Inquiry, which is holding public hearings in Melbourne on Thursday 18 July (10.30am Legislative Council Vic. Parlt.).
"Taxes on superannuation contributions bring in about half the total cost of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which the Government is already trying to cut," Denys Correll, the National Executive Director of COTA, told the Inquiry. "If taxes from superannuation drop, the revenue has to be made up somewhere and pharmaceuticals and disability pensions could be just the start."
Denys Correll welcomed the Committee's wide terms of reference, which enable it to look into 'Standards of living in retirement and factors contributing to it', and not just superannuation. COTA has previously called for such a wide-ranging inquiry and has made a detailed submission on many policies and programs covering security in retirement.
"Superannuation is only one part of retirement income. Pensions, private savings and non-cash benefits like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, universal health coverage, Seniors Health Cards and transport concessions all go towards maintaining the quality and cost of living in retirement," Denys Correll said.
"COTA does not want to see public expenditure which assists low income earners further cut just to tidy up the superannuation scheme or to push the savings burden more onto individuals and away from government. Low income retirees are already doing it hard with incomes not meeting living costs. They don't have and never will have the savings or the superannuation, and rely on government pensions and benefits which should not be cut."
COTA's recommendations for retirement incomes planning cover a pension bonus scheme, limiting further eligibility for the Seniors Health Card, encouraging people to stay at work longer, mature age employment opportunities, and improvements to current superannuation operations.
COTA has also warned the Committee against accepting the misleading interpretation of the costs of ageing made in the Treasury's Intergenerational Report, published as part of the Budget Papers. "The Treasurer is seeking to frighten the public into accepting the need to sacrifice such programs as pharmaceutical benefits and universal health insurance, with the Intergenerational report. He has even fooled Malcolm Turnbull into thinking Australia cannot afford its ageing population," said Mr Correll.
The full submission is no.63 at www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/superannuation_ctte/living_standards/Submissions/sublist.htm
14 May 2002
COTA has slammed the Government for its 28 per cent increase in pharmaceutical costs for older Australians in the 2002-03 Federal Budget and has questioned its cost and policy assumptions about an ageing Australia.
The rise in PBS consumer contributions are not justified by patient overuse or abuse. The extra expense will cause personal hardship without necessarily reducing the nation's overall health costs, according to COTA's National Executive Director, Denys Correll.
"Overseas experience shows that people will visit and require hospitalisation more, and there will be more deaths as a result of increased drug costs," he says.
COTA has cast doubt on the Treasury Inter-Generational Report as a definitive guide to long term planning and funding of the needs of an ageing Australia.
" The report has been produced in isolation from ongoing whole-of-government policy work on policies for an ageing Australia. These have been developed and debated publicly in consultation with COTA and other groups and individuals expert in ageing policies in health, incomes, benefits, training etc."
"Instead of relating its data to these broad policy areas, the report has been used as an excuse for making changes to programs like PBS and Medicare which threaten people's wellbeing. There is every need to understand and plan for the costs of an ageing Australia, but there is no ageing crisis occurring."
"COTA is very disappointed with the Government's new rules for older people on Disability Support Pension especially those over 55, whereby local labour market conditions will no longer be considered in determining eligibility. This group is very disadvantaged in the labour market, facing discrimination on the basis of both age and disability. In addition, the labour market assistance offered for this group is hopelessly inadequate at a mere 800 Job Network places over 3 years," concluded Mr Correll.
14 May 2002
COTA tonight congratulated the Minister for Ageing, Kevin Andrews for delivering on the election promises in aged care in the 2002 Budget.
"The most important of these promises is the $200 million over four years to meet the additional costs of care. This will be indexed. There will also be a review of the cost of care. The cost of care has been one of the most vexed issues in aged care for several years and the funding formula has become increasingly inappropriate for the particular conditions prevailing in aged care. We are delighted that the Minister is committed to a thoroughgoing review of the formula," said Mr Denys Correll, national executive director.
"Older people will benefit from the increased funding for Home and Community Care in tonight's Budget that goes beyond indexation. This was a key COTA budget recommendation for 2002. Again, we are pleased to see the Minister moving ahead in this important issue. There is an increasing need to understand the importance that older people place on staying in their own home as long as possible. The additional funding will certainly help to improve access to basic home and community care services.
"Other key election promises we are pleased to see funded in tonight's budget include:
"Of course there are many challenges in aged care but we are pleased to see commitments to some of the most difficult issues facing the sector," concluded Mr Correll.
9 May 2002
The Council on the Ageing today asked the Federal Government that the focus for any plans to amend conditions around Disability Support Pension for older people should be on protection and support, not creation of further hardship for this group. The advice comes amidst speculation that the Government is looking at toughening up the eligibility for the Disability Support Pension in next week's Budget.
"Older disability support pensioners are amongst the most disadvantaged people in the community – battling poverty, illness and ageing. A number of people have rung COTA already. They are extremely distressed by the rumours of potential changes," said Mr Denys Correll, COTA national executive director.
"The Government knows that labour force opportunities are very slim for this group. COTA supports the return to work for those who are able to work but realistically older people with impediments are still struggling to make headway in terms of employer attitude and support.
"Government should offer labour market assistance to older Disability Support Pensioners who would like to work but the take-up should be on a strictly voluntary basis. The Government must operate with the utmost sensitivity.
"An added dimension of the risks faced by Disability Support Pensioners in next week's Budget comes from the possibility of a rise in the concessional price of pharmaceuticals.
"It is hard to believe that the Government would consider making Budget savings by targetting cuts at older people with illnesses," concluded Mr Correll.
22 April 2002
Council on the Ageing (Australia) said today that the proposal reported in the Melbourne Herald Sun, to impose a compulsory levy of 3% on workers is ill conceived and ill advised.
To talk of the collapse of the health system is arrant nonsense, Denys Correll National Executive Director, said today.
Australia's older population is growing slowly and we do not reach the levels that some European countries have already reached until half way through this century.
To talk of imposing new taxes so soon after the introduction of the GST is baffling. The Coalition Government said in its launch of the 1998 Tax Reform package, "A new tax system will help gear up the Australian economy to meet the challenges of the twenty first century" and "Once fully implemented, the Government's tax reform plan will, in fact reduce the tax take but collect revenue in a fairer, simpler and more open way." A 3% levy will fail to be fair and simple.
Finally - on Government statements - in its publication, The new tax system, here's what you need to know, the Government stated, "And the States will have the revenue into the future to provide the essential community services such as roads, police, schools and hospitals that we all need"
A new levy would be devastating to younger workers who are already forgoing income to accumulate retirement savings through superannuation. They are paying a Medicare levy. The imposts on younger people are already such that there is decreasing home ownership in the under 45-age group.
Older people are paying substantial amounts for their care - 85% of their pension and up to $100,000 in accommodation bonds.
Mr Correll concluded, "The suggestion of a 3% levy is appalling public policy. Let us stick to what the Prime Minister said in a letter of 20 June 2000 that the 2000 tax reforms 'will deliver a fairer tax system which will help take the Australian economy forward'".
16 April 2002
COTA has welcomed the forthcoming Inter-Generational Report on the costs to Government of Australia's population ageing by Treasury but has warned against developing a crisis mentality about ageing.
COTA's National Executive Director, Denys Correll says there is every need to understand and plan for the costs of an ageing Australia, but there is no ageing crisis occurring.
"Most countries are experiencing ageing populations but Australia has one of the lowest proportions of older people in its total population. We have good policies to manage and fund their needs both in now and in the future," he said.
"Some of the interpretations of the report and to ageing are just scaremongering. We don't need to wind back good policies such as universal health insurance, pensions and benefits, and pharmaceutical benefits because of misguided fears of soaring costs."
"Older Australians are not the cause of soaring medical or pharmaceutical costs. Certainly they do mean more services, prescriptions and care. But as the report points out, new developments in technology, treatments and products are pushing costs up. Their use and pricing by providers and producers need to be controlled by the Government, not used as the excuse to pass on all their costs to consumers of any age."
Mr Correll also warned the Government against assuming that the growth in age pensions was under control, due to compulsory superannuation.
"Our research does not back up the assumption that increasing numbers of women in the workforce will be able to access enough superannuation over their working lives for adequate retirement needs," he said.
"Nevertheless this intergenerational report (and the promise to update it every five years) is another welcome step in the Government showing it is taking ageing seriously. It backs up the release of the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia by Kevin Andrews, and its welcoming the Myer project into 2020 aged care," Mr Correll concluded.
15 April 2002
COTA has joined with other leading advocacy and consumer groups in praising the Australian Bankers' Association for acting quickly upon many of COTA's concerns in implementing new industry standards for electronic banking services.
The new standards were launched in Sydney today by ABA Chairman (and Commonwealth Bank CEO) David Murray, and welcomed by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's (HREOC) Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Sev Ozdowski.
The standards - for ATMs, EFTPOS, automated telephone banking and Internet banking - are a critical step towards making these services more accessible to everyone, and in particular to older people and people with disabilities. By specifying how electronic banking services are to be designed and used the standards are a vital step in addressing access for people on the wrong side of the digital divide.
COTA representatives were on the working groups which undertook the detailed research and writing of the standards to achieve best practice. COTA distributed the draft standards widely throughout our networks and encouraged people to send comments or submissions to the ABA. We are pleased that recommendations we made in response to the draft standards - acknowledging input from older people, extra information on age-related impairments and user testing - are incorporated in the final standards.
The Industry Standards are voluntary and will be provided to banks, retailers, and other financial services such as credit unions and building societies.
The next step is to make sure that the standards are adopted by all financial institutions and that consumers are enabled by appropriate information, assistance and education to become confident users.
To assist the take-up of electronic services by older Australians COTA wants practical, innovative, grass roots education and access programs. Funding, sponsoring or partnerships to develop these should come from the banking and finance industry and government.
COTA has ongoing concerns about safety issues expressed by older people in using ATMs and EFTPOS, and about processes for monitoring and remedying problems or dealing with complaints and will continue to work with banks on those issues.
9 April 2002
Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA) will represent the interests and concerns of older Australians at the Myer Project: 2020 - A Vision for Aged Care in Australia. Denys Correll, the National Executive Director of COTA joins with government, industry and provider representatives at the invitation-only mid-year seminar which will consider the principles, policies and program directions the inquiry will take.
The seminar's findings will be published to help focus further community debate.
COTA has already identified deficiencies in the funding, directions and provisions of aged care in Australia. These problems have so far been too difficult for governments to resolve, largely because they are locked into a short term election cycle which makes long term planning, and major changes, difficult to implement.
These issues include:
All of these issues require ongoing and independent research to ensure that access and equity are preserved, and that the right services are developed and funded on an ongoing and sustainable basis.
Many of the options and answers to aged care problems are already known to aged care planners, to COTA (and the Government). We have outlined many of them in our most recent Budget submission (available on COTA's website). But the great benefit of the Myer Project is that all interests and players will be brought together to plan what is best for Australia in the long term.
COTA calls on the Government and Opposition to get behind the Inquiry so there can be a genuine non-partisan approach to deciding what is best for Australia and its older members.
Sunday 31st March 2002
The Government must provide greater control over the pricing, advertising and promotional activities of drug companies to assist in greater cost control and access to life-saving and life-improving pharmaceuticals, according to the Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA).
COTA, which represents the interests of older people, has called for stricter controls, and other changes to the national Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in its budget submission on health and ageing, which it released today. It wants fair and transparent cost restraints and price signals in any PBS changes.
It has warned the Government not to tamper with the PBS by increasing means testing access or introducing higher prescription charges, two cost cutting ideas which have reportedly been made by the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
"Access to pharmaceuticals is a critical part of the health and aged care system. Management of the costs of pharmaceuticals both to the Government and to the consumer ensures that people can continue to obtain the drugs they need to improve quality of life," Denys Correll, National Executive Director of COTA said.
"Already the Government has responded to the growth in PBS costs by de-listing some drugs and older people have suffered as a result. Inappropriate use of medicines generally and the rapid growth in use of pharmaceuticals as a substitute for other forms of treatment amongst older people specifically, have contributed to the growth in outlays for the PBS."
"COTA is also concerned at the intensive promotion of pharmaceutical products to general practitioners by pharmaceutical companies. They need better, unbiased education not overseas jaunts and prescribing perks," he said.
The National Prescribing Service and not drug companies should be the vehicle for independent advice to pharmacists, consumers and doctors, to enable them to independently evaluate drug effects and uses.
| Specific COTA Budget recommendations on the PBS 1. New strict controls on the direct and indirect advertising and promotion of pharmaceuticals. 2. Legally binding price/volume agreements with pharmaceutical companies where sales have exceeded estimates on which the original price was based. 3. Greater transparency for the reasons for delisting drugs from the PBS, including consumer impact statements. 4. More resources for independent information and education about prescription medicines to both general practitioners and older people. 5. Ongoing funding for COTA's Wise Use of Medicines programs. |
(COTA's full submission is available online at this site)
Sunday 31 March 2002
The Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA) in its 2002 Budget submission says it is time for the Federal Government to cease funding dental care for the wealthy through private health insurance subsidies. While the rich have been receiving Government assistance for private dental care, aged pensioners seeking public dental care are missing out.
Denys Correll, National Executive Director of COTA, has called on the Government to end the rebate for private health insurance"extras" or ancillary cover for private dental work and spend this amount directly on reinstating a national dental health policy and program for those on low incomes, older, frail people, people with dementia, people in rural and remote areas, and people in residential aged care.
This program would recognise and respond to the fact that poor dental health contributes to the deterioration in the overall health of older people and can lead to premature admission to a nursing home or even death.
"When the Government stopped funding the modest Dental Health Scheme started by the previous Labor Government, thousands of low income older Australians had to join to long queues for dental care for painful conditions," Denys Correll said today.
"It is now estimated that higher income people using private dental insurance and dental care may receive nearly five times the public subsidy received by an aged pensioner seeking public dental care," he said.
"This is an inappropriate use of government funding. The rebate on ancillary cover ($576 million) should be removed altogether and the moneys spent on the direct provision of dental and other services to older people."
COTA also wants the 30% private health insurance rebate to be redirected to providing services directly to people in greatest need such as aged pensioners. This could be done through means testing.
The renegotiation of the Australian Health Care Agreements with the States and Territories in the next 12 months provides the opportunity to ensure that all levels of Government are contributing to a national dental health scheme.
COTA has made a detailed report to the Federal Government on how to improve its budget allocation to help those in greatest need of dental and other health care as part of its overall submission on Health and Ageing Portfolio. (The full details are available online at this site.)
17 February 2002
Council on the Ageing today welcomed the release today of the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia, by the Minister for Ageing, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP.
"The National Strategy for an Ageing Australia has considerable potential for delivering good policy outcomes for older Australians and the community at large. Our major priorities for action include:
"It is essential that new Ministers for Health and Ageing continue the process commenced by their predecessors and the Ministers for Family and Community Services and Employment and Workplace Relations.
"Council on the Ageing has provided an extensive contribution to the development of the National Strategy. The process, over more than two years, has engaged considerable community resources.," said Mr Denys Correll, National Executive Director.
"The Strategy is a worthwhile starting point for planning for a rapidly ageing population but will involve:
"The report released today marks a good start in working through the issues for an ageing population," said Mr Correll.
23 January 2002
There are still major hurdles to overcome in terms of creating better job opportunities for older workers according to the Council on the Ageing.
A new study of the Social Policy Research Centre of 1000 employers showed that only one in ten of hired job candidates were over 45 and half of all the surveyed businesses did not employ anyone over 55 – despite having overall positive attitudes to mature workers.
"The new study is a major challenge for Government policy. Government needs to become much more proactive and lead a coordinated national response to the issues of mature age employment," said Mr Denys Correll, national executive director.
"Time for an integrated national policy is supported by the BIS Shrapnel report on population ageing which was also released this week. It is clear from that study that we cannot wait another five or ten years for a strong response. The pace of workforce ageing is very rapid with literally no new workforce entrants by the 2020s.
"The Government has embedded much of its response to mature age employment issues in Welfare Reform. This has been a positive step but is not sufficient to take account of the broad spectrum of issues involved – most particularly that Welfare Reform targets primarily people on social security payments whereas many older unemployed people are surviving on their own resources.
"For the May Budget, COTA is seeking major funding commitment to Australia's ageing workforce. It should include:
"The ageing workforce is one of the most important economic issues facing Australia. It is time Government policy reflected this," concluded Mr Correll.
21 January 2002
The report of BIS Shrapnel on the ageing population and ageing workforce emphasises the urgent need for a coherent and integrated policy on Australia's ageing workforce, said Council on the Ageing today.
"The Federal Government recognises that there are large, emerging issues of an ageing workforce, but its policy responses to date have been piecemeal and do not reflect a broad ranging employment strategy," said Mr Denys Correll, COTA national executive director.
"The major response has been through the Welfare Reform process but ageing workforce issues do not fit well under the welfare umbrella. These are issues about long term social and economic planning. Welfare Reform targets some mature age people for assistance but it does not address the bigger picture issues which affect such individuals including people outside the welfare system.
"Even within Welfare Reform the response is narrow. In the last Budget, the Government allocated $146 million over 4 years in Welfare Reform for the mature age group – predominantly those on social security incomes. $100 million will be spent on Centrelink services and $45 million for employment, education and training services – a mere $11 million per year.
"This is quite inadequate. As COTA well knows there are many older people who want a fair go in the labour market but are not being offered opportunities for a range of reasons. Part of the problem is employer attitudes and part of the problem may lie with the expectations and skills of older people themselves which may not match the opportunities in today's labour market.
"In any case, there need to be high quality services which work with mature age people to help them to obtain the skills and dispositions needed for today's jobs. Services need to be developed which specialise in finding jobs for mature age people. Unfortunately, most employment services, both public and private are not greatly interested in the mature worker.
"The BIS Shrapnel report marks a useful contribution to the ageing population debate, but we do not support a view of the ageing population which paints an overly pessimistic picture – or which feeds panic over the ageing population.
"Australia needs considered and intelligent policy making which will take us through the demographic and labour force transitions. It is up to our policy makers to make such considered and intelligent choices," concluded Mr Correll.
17 January 2002
The debate on poverty measurement should not cloud the fact that more older people are now reporting that they are struggling to make ends meet than they did a few years ago.
"Rather than argue about the measurement we should be addressing the underlying issues" Said Nigel Barker Executive Director of COTA(WA) "This is playing politics with people's lives."
The Council on the Ageing (WA) Inc, was responding to comments attributed to the Minister for Family and Community Services, Amanda Vanstone, supporting the lower poverty estimates of the Centre for Independent Studies over the higher Smith Family/NATSEM estimates.
Nationally, Veronica Sheen, COTA(Australia)'s deputy director said "There is no question that older people on full pensions are finding it very difficult to manage. Eighteen months since the introduction of the GST, older people are reporting to COTA offices throughout Australia that they are feeling that their incomes have not kept up with prices. They have noted considerable cost increases in the areas of insurances, gas and electricity, household services including repairs, gardening and maintenance. GST is the major pressure point but increased user pays, removal of some medications from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and pressures on services such as dental care have all played a part."
"In addition, high rents in many capital cities have squeezed the most marginal older people in private rental accommodation who do not own their own homes. COTA believes the Government urgently needs to help older people on the lowest incomes especially those without their own homes.
"The Government came up with a $300 one-off payment for age pensioners in the last Budget. This needs to become an ongoing annual increase of $300 indexed or 3 per cent in the incomes of pensioners. This pension increase or supplement needs to apply to age pensioners and other people 50 and over who are reliant on social security incomes," concluded Ms Sheen.
For comment on any media releases or articles please contact
Council on the Ageing (Australia)
Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent
Melbourne 3004
Tel: (03) 9820 2655 Fax: (03) 9829 9886
email: cota@cota.org.au
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Copyright © 1997 Council on the Ageing.
All rights reserved.
Revised: 23 October, 2001
COTA National Seniors Policy Secretariat [formerly Council
on the Ageing (Australia)
Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne Vic 3004
Tel (03) 9820 2655 Fax (03) 9820 9886
email cota@cota.org.au