SOCIAL housing is the big winner in the NSW budget, but many seniors will remain on public housing waiting lists.
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The budget includes $342 million to build 1021 new social housing dwellings and complete a further 770. Existing public housing stock will receive a $209 million upgrade.
“The extra 1021 social housing dwellings are a welcome boost, but won’t do a lot to make substantial inroads into reducing the 60,000-long social housing waiting list,” said Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association senior advisor Charmaine Crowe.
Council on the Ageing chief executive Ian Day said the $400 million Housing Acceleration Fund, which will go towards infrastructure in growth areas to bring housing to the market quickly, would also help address housing affordability.
Mr Day said the budget showed encouraging signs that the government was “grappling with the reality of an ageing population”.
“We’re gratified to see that a sizeable portion of infrastructure spending will be directed to making more public transport accessible for those with mobility issues, with the government indicating that $890 million will be invested in station upgrades and commuter car parks over the coming four years,” he said.
Funding for energy rebates will increase by 11 per cent to $250 million, of which more than $196 million will be allocated to the Low Income Household Rebate of $235 per year for eligible housholds.
More than $21 million has been allocated for the new $90 gas rebate. The Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme has increased to $16 million, with an extra 40 community groups and charities accredited to distribute the vouchers.
The Life Support Rebate will be extended to support people with quadriplegia who rely on electric wheelchairs.
Ms Crowe welcomed the extra $3.5 million for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Scheme, but she said there was still a need for affordable accommodation for patients’ families in Sydney.
Palliative care in rural and regional areas receives a $3.5 million boost. Minister for Ageing John Ajaka said the budget would provide a record $3.3 billion for people with a disability, with a commitment to roll out the National Disability Insurance Scheme a year ahead of schedule in the Nepean and Blue Mountains regions.
Where's rural support?
RURAL councils are missing out on state government funding that supports ageing and disability workers in metropolitan areas but doesn’t extend to country towns.
Local Government NSW has called on the government to extend recurrent funding for ageing and disability workers to all councils seeking the roles, at a cost of about $6.5 million a year. President Keith Rhoades said many seniors in rural areas were missing out on the support they needed because no state-funded age and disability worker positions existed in the bush.
“It just doesn’t make sense that these positions, of which there are about 60, are located only in cities and major regional hubs,” Mr Rhoades said.
“Meanwhile increasing costs in the cities can mean more and more seniors are moving to rural and regional areas.” He said ageing and disability workers provided “a real, human grassroots connection between seniors and community services”.
The budget also includes $2 million over four years for the Tech Savvy Seniors program, $2 million over four years to double the number of outlets offering Seniors Card discounts, and $4 million in grants for community projects with a focus on accessibility, active living and mobility projects for seniors.
