Seniors Minister

Press release
6 August 2010

Seniors Minister must be Cabinet position

Older Australians are calling on Tony Abbott to confirm that his new Minister for Seniors and Ageing position would hold Cabinet status.

The call follows Wednesday’s announcement that a Coalition government would create a ministerial position responsible not just for aged care but the breadth of issues facing the over-50s.

National Seniors chairman, Everald Compton, said that as an ageing society the Seniors portfolio would need to encompass almost every facet of national life both now and into the future.

“Population ageing can’t be underestimated. In 1970, eight percent of all Australians were aged over 65; by 2050 that figure will be 25 percent. It will affect every aspect of Australian society from health to infrastructure and the economy. I’m not convinced current policy-makers grasp the implications of this,” he said.

“With responsibilities cutting across several portfolios, the Seniors and Ageing Minister must be involved in decision-making at the highest levels - the position deserves Cabinet status”.

“He or she will need to oversee sustainable health, aged care and social security systems; rethink the way we design public spaces, houses, transport systems and workplaces; and consider how best to shape demographic change in the national interest”.

“These are big issues. They demand action. They cannot be swept under the carpet”.

“I am calling on a similar commitment from Labor if re-elected,” said Compton.

The seniors vote is 45 per cent of the Australian electorate. Of that, 25 percent or 1.5 million are undecided.

Media contact: 07 3233 9135

With around 280,000 members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.