Ageing loses its own Minister
Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) is disappointed there is not a separate Minister for Ageing, following the new ministry announcement by the Prime Minister Elect Tony Abbott.
Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) is disappointed there is not a separate Minister for Ageing, following the new ministry announcement by the Prime Minister Elect Tony Abbott.
ACSA chief executive, Adjunct Professor John Kelly AM, said: “We would have seen it as a sign of leadership to give the ageing portfolio its own minister with that position being in Cabinet, particularly in view of community expectations of increased residential and community based aged care services in the near and long term future.”
Professor Kelly added the decision does not recognise the tremendous challenges ahead or the government’s responsibilities for the changes in the community regarding the increasing ageing population.
Seniors not for profit organisation, National Seniors Australia, however has welcomed the recent appointment of Kevin Andrews as Minister for Social Services with responsibility for several aspects of ageing and Senator Mitch Fifield as Assistant Minister with responsibility for both age care and NDIS.
National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said he welcomed the appointment of Minister Andrews and Minister Fifield to what would be a challenging role, particularly with seniors comprising a rapidly growing percentage of the population.
“As a minister in the inner Cabinet, Mr Andrews will oversee a huge and increasingly important portfolio and we wish him every success in his endeavours,” Mr O’Neill said.
Health Minister Peter Dutton would also be a key appointment, according to Mr O’Neill.
“Health, health costs, health insurance, PBS and so forth are all critical issues to the over 50s and we look forward to providing input from a consumer perspective.”
Mr O’Neill said the future would be challenging and it was likely the new government would look long and hard at policy issues and entitlements of all kinds including those involving older Australians.
“We need to ensure that all considerations have regard to a consumer perspective and that more generally, there is an understanding among ministers of the challenge that is ageing.”
