Media Releases
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June 2013
Budget a disappointment for NSW’s seniorsSeniors in New South Wales are disappointed that today’s budget contained nothing new for the state’s over 50s. Read the release.
Community urged to be aware of elder abuse
National Seniors Australia is urging members of the community to be more aware of the types of abuse facing the elderly as we mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2013. Read the release.
SA budget does little for state’s seniors
Seniors have little to celebrate in the 2013/14 South Australian state budget handed down today, lobby group for the over 50s, National Seniors Australia said. Read the release.
Qld budget brings limited relief to state's seniors
The 2013/14 Queensland budget handed down today brings limited relief from the spiralling living costs endured by some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, lobby group for the over 50s National Seniors Australia said. Read the release.
More seniors to get free transport in ACT
Older Canberrans aged over 70 who hold a Seniors Gold Card will now be eligible for free bus travel, announced today in the ACT budget. Read the release.
Seniors vote to be won on bread and butter issues, new survey reveals
A survey of 1,600 Australians aged 50 plus, reveals that the seniors vote will be won this September on bread and butter issues such as health and the economy. Read the release.
May 2013
Mature age work barriers report does not go far enough, say seniors
Older Australians say a Law Reform Commission report designed to tackle the legal workforce barriers facing mature age people, tabled in federal parliament today, does not go far enough. Read the release.
Tasmanian budget does little to ease seniors’ living costs
Tasmania’s budget contains precious little to ease the burden of living costs to the state’s older residents, over 50s lobby group National Seniors Australia said today. Read the release.
New yearly tests for older drivers onerous and distressing, say seniors
Changes requiring annual medical tests for older drivers will be onerous and distressing, says the over 50s lobby. Read the release.
Aged care insurance a hard sell
Insurance policies for aged care would be a good way of helping Australians fund their needs in later life but would be a hard sell to consumers, a new report says. Read the release.
Seniors escape budget cuts, cautiously welcome housing pilot but miss out on NDIS
Seniors, relatively unscathed by last night’s budget, are cautiously welcoming an innovative $112.4 million pilot scheme that will allow them to quarantine the proceeds of the family home from the age pension means test. Read the release.
Seniors’ budget expectations: sweet and nasty
While seniors are expecting some nasties in tonight’s budget announcement they’re also hoping for some realistic election year sweetners in health, employment and information technology. Read the release.
Breast screen reminders should be extended to all older women
National Seniors Australia welcomes the announcement to expand breast screening reminders to women aged 70 to 74 but says the program should be extended to include all women aged 75 years and over. Read the release.
Retiree incomes set to fall with official rate cut
The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates today spells bad news for retirees living off their investments, say the consumer lobby for older Australians. Read the release.
Victorian Budget a mixed bag for state’s seniors
Victoria’s state budget is a mixed bag for seniors that gives with one hand and takes with the other, consumer lobby group for the over 50s, National Seniors Australia said today. Read the release.
April 2013
Older Australians sidelined as Government “celebrates” disability scheme roll outOlder Australians watched from the sidelines as the Federal Government celebrated the roll out of the renamed National Disability Insurance Scheme in South Australia today. Read the release.
Seniors relief over NSW electricity price decision
Older Australians have welcomed a draft decision which will see NSW residential electricity price increases kept broadly in line with inflation from July 2013. Read the release.
Seniors welcome measures to improve safety online
The consumer group for older Australians has welcomed a new report released today which recommends a raft of new measures to improve the safety of seniors using the internet. Read the release.
Seniors welcome government coming clean on super, but concessional cap falls short
Older Australians have welcomed the government coming clean on its superannuation plans but say the concessional cap increase has fallen short of expectations. Read the release.
March 2013
Compression bandages could squeeze VLU costsNational Seniors has joined calls for federal subsidies that would help save millions of dollars in health care costs to treat painful venous leg ulcers (VLU). Read the release.
Labor’s NDIS 65-year age limit a cruel lottery for older Australians
An arbitrary figure plucked out of thin air will be used to exclude older Australians with severe disabilities from the NDIS, says the consumer lobby for the over 50s. Read the release.
Seniors look forward to working with re-elected WA Government
The country’s largest seniors’ organisation is looking forward to working with the WA Government after the Liberals were re-elected in the state election at the weekend. Read the release.
Seniors object to super nest egg interference
Australians strongly object (86%) to the government having any more say in how they spend their super but 70 per cent have little confidence that the rules won’t change by the time they retire, a new survey reveals. Read the release.
Old age and declining health no barrier to a happy social life
Australians in their 70s and 80s enjoy better social relationships and report higher satisfaction with their lives compared to people in their 50s, according to a study released today. Read the release.
February 2013
National Seniors Australia has welcomed the announcement of the WA Liberal Party’s election promises for older Western Australians today. Read the release.
Electricity becoming a luxury in Queensland
National Seniors Australia believes proposed increases to electricity charges will financially hurt and demoralise older Queenslanders, following a report from the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) released today. Read the release.
WA seniors happy with Labor’s promise to remove unfair policy
National Seniors has welcomed WA Labor’s election promise to extend the Cost of Living Assistance (CoLA) payment to all seniors and pensioners living in retirement villages and caravan parks. Read the release.
Seniors consider retirement villages for community connection
New research shows older people are more likely to consider moving to a retirement village if they feel disconnected within their own neighbourhood. Read the release.
Housing a big issue for WA seniors
National Seniors Australia is asking parties in the upcoming state election to commit to improving housing and introducing stamp duty cuts for older Western Australians. Read the release.
Older Australians have described a much anticipated pension increase coming off the back of the first deeming rate cut in four years (March 2009) as welcome but long overdue. Read the release.
National Seniors Literary Prize a catalyst for change
The 2013 winner of the National Seniors Literary Prize is Persephone Nicholas, whose novel Burned was inspired by her own life milestones of motherhood and migration. Read the release.
Hands off our super, seniors warn
Over half of Australians aged 45 plus with knowledge of superannuation believe the rules change too often. Read the release.
January 2013
New research has found many older Australians are as embarrassed about talking to financial advisers as they are about visiting their doctors. Read the release.
Ditch the 'ageing crisis' tag and get real on older workers
The seniors' lobby has hit back at reports that Australia will lose its triple-A credit rating as a result of the ageing population and says changing our attitudes to employing older workers is the key to improving national productivity. Read the release.
Elderly at risk as temperatures soar
National Seniors Australia is warning the community to keep an eye out for the elderly as soaring temperatures hit Australia today. Read the release.
December 2012
National Seniors Australia hopes changes to residential accommodation charges will help consumers better navigate the minefield of entering aged care. Read the release.
Ageing at home may be a far-fetched reality
The desire of older Australians to ‘age in place’ may be a far-fetched reality with new research today revealing many Australian dwellings are unsuitable for ageing at home. Read the release.
Look out for your elderly neighbour at Christmas
Christmas Day is one of the most stressful times of the year and for many seniors it can also be the loneliest. Read the release.
Volunteer work a top priority for upcoming retirees
More than half of older Australians intend to spend their post-employment years engaged in volunteer work, a new retirement planning study released today indicates. Read the release.
Living costs dampen festive season, inaugural Seniors Sentiment Index finds
Rising energy, health and home maintenance costs are taking the joy out of Christmas for many older Australians, a new over 50s life sentiment measure has found. Read the release.
Reserve Bank "Grinch" steals retiree Christmas
Retirees are in for a tough Christmas with the Reserve Bank taking official interest rates to their lowest level since the 2009 Global Financial Crisis. Read the release.
Shutting over 65s out of NDIS a cruel blow
The NDIS Bill being introduced into parliament today will shut older Australians out of vital disability support services purely on the basis of their age. Read the release.
November 2012
Out-of-pocket health care costs a burden for chronic health sufferers
Older people with multiple chronic health conditions are under significant financial pressure, a new report has found. Read the release.
Power price shake-up may cost seniors more
The Federal Government’s plans to ‘put consumers first’ in the way they pay for their power consumption may actually put some of them last, says the over-50s lobby group National Seniors Australia. Read the release.
Draft age discrimination laws cautiously welcomed
National Seniors hopes draft legislative changes announced today will strengthen Australia’s weak age discrimination laws, making it easier for older Australians to prove discriminatory treatment in the courts. Read the release.
New web resource welcome but over-60s need help taking that very first step online, say seniors
National Seniors has welcomed a new government website to support older Australians already online but says more needs to be done to help seniors actually get there in the first place. Read the release.
Retirement quiz helps pre-retirees plan for future
National Seniors has created a healthy ageing quiz to help the over 50s better prepare for retirement. Read the release.
Seniors must not be overlooked in energy debate
The over 50s have welcomed the Federal Government’s Energy White Paper 2012 which acknowledges the impact of soaring and unsustainable energy prices on Australian households. Read the release.
A proposal by the Queensland Government to increase annual electricity charges will bring more pain to seniors and target smaller households, according to the seniors’ lobby group. Read the release.
October 2012
Grandparents will be recognised in Western Australia this Sunday as the state celebrates its first official Grandparents' Day. Read the release.
Drug costs force over 50s to skip medication
A fifth (21%) of Australians aged 50 to 64 with financial strain from the cost of prescription medicines are skipping doses to temper mounting costs, a new report reveals. This compares to 12% of those aged 65 plus. Read the release.
Failure to plan retirement worries seniors group
The high number of Australians approaching retirement who have little or no plans for their retirement is a worrying sign, according to a new report released today. Read the release.
Home help and flexi time could put more carers in the workforce
More older carers could find paid jobs if they could get help at home and more flexible working hours. Read the release.
Older Australians giving their time and money, finds new report
Research into how the modern-day family support each other has found older Australians are spending much of their time babysitting grandchildren as well as financially supporting younger family members. Read the release.
Seniors slam super lump-sum spending claims
Older Australians have slammed claims that retirees are spending their lump sum super payments on overseas holidays or living the high life. Read the release.
Interest rate cut a blow for retirees
The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates today is a blow for older Australians living off their investments. Read the release.
September 2012
Seniors slam offensive pension rort claims
Older Australians have slammed claims that retirees are hiding cash under their mattresses in order to receive a pension. Read the release.
Seniors disappointed by Do Not Knock Bill recommendation
Older Australians are disappointed by a parliamentary committee recommendation to scrap the introduction of a Do Not Knock Register. Read the release.
Seniors welcome jump in Queensland Patient Travel Subsidy
Older Queenslanders have welcomed the doubling in the state budget of the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) for people living in rural and remote areas. Read the release.
August 2012
Seniors hope dental package reduces public waiting lists
Older Australians are hoping the extra funding announced for children’s dental services will translate into shorter adult waiting lists and that the States pass on any new money. Read the release.
Seniors slam breast screen age-rationing proposal
Older Australians have slammed a proposal obtained under Freedom of Information laws to age-ration free breast screens. Read the release.
Baby boomers show adaptability in challenging times
Baby boomers are adapting to the recent economic and social challenges such as the GFC, but many may still lack the resources needed for a happy and healthy retirement, according to a study of present-day baby boomers. Read the release.
Seniors call on Government to back Do Not Knock Register
Older Australians are calling on the Government to back a Do Not Knock Register which would allow the elderly to opt out of house calls from aggressive door-to-door salespeople. Read the release.
Seniors welcome NSW nursing home sprinklers. Now, other states must step up
Older Australians have welcomed the NSW government’s decision to make fire sprinklers mandatory in aged care facilities across the state. Read the release.
Beware of slick scams targeting seniors
Seniors are being urged to guard against slick scammers targeting retirement savings and superannuation. Read the release.
July 2012
Debunking the myth that baby boomers are greedy and selfish, new research shows that the over-50s stepped in to help out their adult children to the tune of $23 billion in 2011. Read the release.
Study links neighbourhood to personal wellbeing
A study of seniors aged 55 and over has revealed that the type of neighbourhood you live in is related to your general health, mental health and quality of life. Read the realease.
Ageing strategy a first for NSW
National Seniors Australia has welcomed the NSW Government’s first NSW Ageing Strategy which has been developed to recognise the benefits and challenges of an ageing population. Read the release.