SENIOR CITIZENS

CDP acknowledges that our senior citizens have contributed significantly over their lifetime to make Australia what it is today: a prosperous, stable and enjoyable society which remains the envy of many overseas countries.

In view of their past contributions to the development of our Christian Australian culture, senior citizens deserve special support and recognition.

CDP endorses the five major principles of the Council on the Ageing Over 50s:

1. Maximise the economic, social and political participation of older Australians;

2. Promote positive views of ageing and challenge negative stereotypes;

3. Promote intergenerational contact and dependence;

4. Redress disadvantage and discrimination;

5. Retain and extend services and programs used and valued by senior citizens.

Respect

CDP believes that many of our senior citizens do not receive the respect they are entitled to; as a result, their inclusion in society is somewhat limited, the level of services and income support they receive are insufficient and their safety and security is inadequate.

The lack of respect towards the elderly is evident in the light of the increase in crime perpetrated against senior citizens.

CDP will seek to introduce legislation with heavier penalties for crimes, assaults and burglaries perpetrated against the elderly.

Vilification and discrimination

CDP will introduce legislation to make vilification of seniors unlawful and will work towards a fairer representation of seniors on government boards and committees.

CDP will introduce an amendment to the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 to ensure that weekly payments do not cease on account of age alone (as is currently the case).

Employment and volunteering

CDP will encourage government intervention to influence businesses to allow older workers to move from full time to part time work or to take up different duties in a given organisation.

Recognising the value of volunteering to the community, CDP will also work towards government subsidising the out-of-pocket costs (eg. petrol, transportation, telephone etc) senior volunteers incur in the delivery of services to the community.

Transportation

CDP will work towards a more accessible and affordable public transport system in WA as many seniors do not have access to private transport.

CDP will work towards a reduction in public transport costs for pensioners and carers, aiming to cap the cost at the prevailing student’s rate (currently 50 cents).

CDP will seek to introduce legislation to allow the Government to pick up the full cost of LPG conversion on motor vehicles owned by holders of a Senior’s card.

Taxation

CDP will work for a review of the GST agreement between the Federal and WA State Government to ensure that on a means tested basis, senior citizens are exempted from the payment of GST on a number of goods and services.

Concessions

While the Federal Government has responsibility for the Age Pension, concessions form an important part of seniors’ incomes.

CDP will introduce legislation to ensure that concessions are automatically indexed quarterly on the cost of living.

CDP will also work towards the WA State Government lobbying its Federal counterpart for an increase in the minimum pension to a level guaranteeing at least a decent and reasonable lifestyle to all older Australians.

Housing

The CDP housing policy supports direct taxpayer funding of a range of accommodation types for people who are genuinely unable, not merely reluctant, to provide for their own accommodation.

For seniors unable to own their home, CDP will introduce legislation to force the State Housing Authority into acquiring dwellings suited to seniors’ needs and offering these at affordable rentals to senior citizens on a means tested basis.

CDP will also introduce legislation to ensure that local government authorities planning requirements are expedited to speed construction of residential care facilities.

Airconditioning of residential dwellings is a necessity in WA. Currently, the Western Power concession only applies to those living in the northern part of the State. This is not sufficient.

In the UK, age pensioners receive additional payment to cover power costs when temperatures fall below a specified minimum for a given period of time.

CDP will introduce a similar scheme to apply anywhere throughout WA when temperatures exceed a specified minimum for a given period.

Health

CDP addresses health issues in a separate policy document, however aware that health issues are of paramount importance to seniors, CDP will also:

- seek to introduce legislation encouraging preventative health campaigns by private and public organisations under the theme “Living longer, living stronger”.

- work to achieve a higher increase in the provision of high quality palliative care services for people with terminal illnesses. Palliative care should be available at home, in residential aged care and in hospices.

Grandparenting

An increasing number of grandparents care for their grandchildren on a full or part time basis and usually face different problems from those experienced by young parents.

Recognising the unique contribution grandparents bring to families, CDP will seek to introduce legislation to:

- provide an adequate allowance to grandparents who are primary carers of their grand children;

- provide a range of respite options to grandparents raising grandchildren through funding of grandparent support groups and community service providers;

- achieve recognition of grandparents’ legal rights and status in law, especially for primary caregivers.

Education

CDP supports access by senior citizens to further education in order to facilitate their inclusion into our everyday’s society.

CDP will seek to introduce legislation that will enhance English language skills among older citizens born in non English speaking countries (particularly new arrivals).

CDP will also facilitate the access to lifestyle courses of interest to older people.

CDP will also encourage senior citizens to develop basic computer skills and knowledge of email and the Internet.