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> Cota Media Releases > Media Releases 1988 July to December
12 MAY 1998
There are some aspects of the Coalition's third Budget which will win the support of older Australians according to the Council on the Ageing (COTA).
"Health care is one of the most important public policy issues for older people. The Government's focus in this area in the budget is welcome, says Mr Denys Correll, COTA's National Director.
"We are pleased to see that around 220,000 non-pensioner older Australians will benefit from the lifting of the income test for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. This will give this group access to pharmaceuticals at the concessional rate of $3.20 per prescription. This will especially help those non-pensioners with high needs for pharmaceuticals.
"We also welcome the education and research program to curb usage of prescription drugs. This is an area in which COTA has run a number of Australia-wide projects as we believe that there is considerable inappropriate prescribing for older people.
"In our 98-99 Budget Submission we had a strong focus on the need to improve the health status of Aboriginal Australians. We are gratified to see that the Government is providing additional funds for primary health care and public health measures in Aboriginal communities.
"Funding for the International Year of Older Persons and especially the non-government contribution through Australian Coalition '99 will be well-received by older people.
"However, there are some big disappointments in the Budget.
"We had hoped that Home and Community Care (HACC) would receive additional funding to meet the needs of an ageing population and we recommended an increase of 8 per cent over last year. We find that there is a mere 3.5 per cent increase for HACC.
"Another major disappointment has been the lack of action in terms public dental health. The lack of Commonwealth resources for dental care will continue to be a blight on the record of this Government which otherwise is trying hard to win over older people.
"We are also still waiting on the Government to come to the party in terms of capital upgrading of nursing homes. We still don't know how those nursing homes that are in desperate need of essential maintenance can find the necessary funds.
"Overall, it's a modest Budget for older people, but we can't ignore some serious black holes," concluded Mr Correll.
12 MAY 1998
The Council on the Ageing (COTA) welcomes the Minister for Health and Family Service's commitment of $5.9 million over 2 years in the Budget to the International Year of Older Persons in 1999.
"In particular, we welcome those funds dedicated to the non-government sector effort for the international year - the Australian Coalition '99 which is a consortium of aged person's interest groups," said Mr Denys Correll, COTA' National Director.
"The International Year must be run at the grass roots - by older people themselves as far as possible. We are pleased that the Government has recognised this and is providing some assistance to help make the participation of older people possible.
"The non-government sector will be running a wide range of events over the year which are aimed at empowering older people as a major force in the community.
Australian Coalition '99 is operating in all states and territories and has engaged extensive community support and the cooperation of many businesses.
While the Department of Health and Family Services is making a major contribution to the International Year, we are waiting for the other major Government Departments to make their contributions. We are especially concerned that the Deparment of Social Security/Centrelink and the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs have a good range of programs for the International Year.
23 April 1998
Council on the Ageing (Australia) welcomes yesterday's announcement by Cheryl Kernot on Labor's plans to address unemployment for people over 45.
Mr Denys Correll, National Executive Director, said today "Australia is sadly lacking action in the area of older workers. Many older people now experience extended periods of unemployment."
"Age discrimination is widespread across many occupations and impact on people as young as 40."
"Employment amongst older people is a major issue as the Government expects people in retirement to pay for services and finance their retirement - this becomes impossible if people in middle age are not employed."
"Full time labour force participation of males aged between 55 and 64 has declined from 79% in 1973 to 52% in 1993."
Labor's initiative for over 45's is the first indication by a major party that employment issues for this age group are a policy priority.
COTA calls on all parties to make over 45's employment a major policy activity for the International Year of Older Persons 1999 and the Strategy for an Ageing Australia announced by the Minister for Family Services in November 1997. Policies should include:
innovative employment projects to assist the retention of older people in the workforce.
a national media campaign to promote older employment
These initiatives are outlined in COTAs Budget Submission.
2 April 1998
The Council on the Ageing (COTA) welcomes the four year $270 million package Staying at Home, announced by the Prime Minister today, designed to help older people stay at home rather than go into residential aged care.
"Over recent months, COTA has been arguing strongly that the options for community care need to be expanded," commented Mr Denys Correll, National Director for COTA.
"We are particularly pleased about the expansion in Community Aged Care Packages (CACPs) which provide assistance in the home to people who would otherwise have to go into a nursing home or hostel.
"This is certainly the right direction for aged care policy. It will achieve a better balance between community care in the home and residential aged care. It delivers to older people what they increasingly want - which is to stay at home as long as possible.
"The measures for carers are also pleasing. The new Carer Allowance which broadens out the eligibility for assistance will greatly help the many older men and women who are caring for their spouse at home who may have a disability or dementia or otherwise be ill or frail.
"We also support the addtional $30 million over four years for carers' respite. The Government clearly recognises the enormous stresses faced by people who are caring for ill and disabled people. There will be a further $10 million for a special program of in-home respite services for people with dementia. This is a very positive direction and widens out the range of supports in the difficult area of dementia care.
"Altogether, we see the package as a significant advance in the Government's relationship with those older, frail Australians who wish to continue living in the community.
"COTA welcomes the Prime Minister's commitment to International Year of Older Persons - 1999. This will be a great leap forward for older Australians," concluded Mr Correll.
8 March 1998
The Council on the Ageing welcomes the increase in the age pension payment flowing from the Government's new legislation that guarantees the rate at 25 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings.
"While happy with this improvement, COTA still worries about the situation of many older people who rely on the pension," said Mr Denys Correll, National Director.
"Older people tell us all the time that they are having trouble keeping up with price rises. For example there has been a recent hike of 10 per cent in health costs. Naturally nobody mentions this. But older people are hurt directly by these sorts of price increases.
"While the pension may allow someone to survive on a week to week basis (just), it isn't enough to allow people savings for "lumpy" expenditure on goods and services. Examples of these sorts of things are white goods, major repairs - or a new set of dentures.
"We think there is much merit in the motion of the Member for Stirling, Mr Eoin Cameron, put to the House of Representatives on 3 March. He is asking for an inquiry into the cost of living of aged pensioners and retirees.
'"In brief, Mr Cameron is proposing that the inquiry should cover:
whether the cost of living for pensioners and retirees is being accurately measured
whether the quality and value of government assistance is adequate and if any changes are warranted
whether the 25 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings benchmark is suitable
recommending changes which will better target assistance to pensioners.
"COTA believes this inquiry is long overdue. We still have a large population of older people who do not have superannuation. It will be a number of years before the new super arrangements will mean that people reaching older ages will have a better level of incomes.
"We must, in the meantime, address the problems faced by many older people at present - simply, not enough income to live on and pay for the commodities and services they need," concluded Mr Correll.
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