ELECTION 2016
Affordable treatment, fair pensions top election wish list
HEALTH, retirement incomes and aged care are shaping up as the key issues of the July 2 federal election, with seniors expressing disenchantment with the major parties in the early weeks of the campaign.
Online forums suggest older people remain guarded, with party leaders paying verbal homage to the valuable role of seniors but failing to announce any targeted policy by the time The Senior went to press.
In line with research released by The Senior in April, seniors groups around the country say affordable medical treatment, fair pensions and superannuation, and access to quality aged care are the areas older people list as most important when deciding who they will support at the polls.
Council on the Ageing Australia’s election survey of 1160 older voters found health issues made up three of the top five priorities.
Access to quality health services topped the poll at 77 per cent, with healthy ageing at 48 per cent and access to good quality palliative care 45 per cent.
Having adequate pensions was earmarked as a priority by 65 per cent of people, while access to quality aged care was the third- most important issue at 57 per cent.
However, issues such as the need to increase the Newstart allowance have not been addressed, leaving mature jobseekers in financial distress until they qualify for the age pension.
COTA national chief executive Ian Yates said his group would be part of a concerted campaign for the removal of aged care rationing to give people real choice about their aged and residential care options.
“Currently the government funds an aged care service for 112 of every 1000 Australians over 70,” Mr Yates said.
“If you are number 113 in your area you join a long waiting list for care, no matter how urgently you need it.
“Once you’ve been assessed by the government’s own My Aged Care as needing a particular level of service, you shouldn’t have to wait for those services to start.”
The Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association wants to see private health insurance costs reined in and immediate restoration of Medicare indexation to stop GPs from charging co-payments.
In aged care, the association has called for home care improvements and mandatory staff-to-resident ratios in residential care.
