Current Issues

The issues of concern to senior Australians are many and varied, reflecting the broad diversity of this age cohort. They extend to include matters of finance and health through to government policy development and elder abuse.

For each of these issues, the National Policy Office (NPO) develops policy priorities in consultation with members through the grass-roots policy process, community consultation forums, general correspondence and direct representation.

These priorities then form the basis of National Seniors' lobbying and advocacy work.

Some of the major issues that National Seniors is currently involved with on behalf of its members include:

Mature Age Employment

Faced with a rapidly ageing population and a looming skills shortage, National Seniors strongly believes that one of the greatest things we can do as a nation is create a level playing field for our mature age workers. Evidence suggests Australia can do much more in this regard and is fast falling behind its neighbours and major trading partners. National Seniors continues to drive the national debate on this issue through direct representations to government, business and union representatives, as well as through cutting edge research, such as our recently released ‘Experience Works’ report which provided a candid snapshot of mature age employment in Australia, outlines the distinctive barriers faced by older workers, identifies benefits for employers, draws on overseas approaches and presents policy responses. National Seniors will continue to place this issue on the national agenda until older workers are afforded equal treatment in the workplace and better access to retraining opportunities.

Superannuation

Superannuation has long been an issue of major significance to National Seniors members, and in the current period of reform is a major area of focus for the NPO. The NPO is currently developing a submission to the Review into the governance, efficiency, structure and operation of Australia’s superannuation (Cooper Review). As well as establishing a panel of members with superannuation expertise, the NPO is developing an online member survey which will provide the broader membership with an opportunity to have direct input to the Review.

Health Reform

National Seniors is closely involved in the ongoing health reform debate on behalf of health consumers. In addition to ongoing engagement with the Federal Minister for Health, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, National Seniors has provided detailed input to the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC). NSA was also represented on the annual National Medicines Policy Forum, contributing to the recognition that there should be a greater access and more holistic approach to medicine use and awareness amongst seniors.

Global Financial Crisis

National Seniors continues to ensure government is aware of impact of the global financial crisis on Australians aged 50 and over, and takes appropriate and timely action to provide assistance, such as the expansion in August this year of hardship provisions for those with frozen funds. National Seniors continues to press Government and industry to work towards a solution whereby the $25 billion in frozen funds can be unfrozen.

Cataracts

The Federal Government announced earlier this year that the Medicare rebate for cataract surgery would be cut by 12% from 1 February 2010, as opposed to a 50% cut as proposed in the 2009-10 Federal Budget. This decision followed ongoing representations by National Seniors to Government and ophthalmologist industry representatives. While National Seniors has welcomed the decision as reducing out of pocket expenses for cataract patients we remain concerned for the 30,000 or so patients who underwent cataract surgery between 1 November 2009 and 1 February 2010, during which time a much less generous rebate applied. National Seniors will maintain pressure on Government to adequately compensate these patients.

Public Housing Rents

Through direct representations to all state and territory ministers and Federal Treasurer, as well as a concerted media campaign, National Seniors was able to secure the permanent exclusion of the $30 (per week) Age Pension increase from the calculation of public housing rents in QLD, NT, SA and Tasmania. National Seniors will continue to apply pressure to the remaining state and territory governments to provide their pensioners with the same degree of certainty.

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