New look ministry for seniors
The appointment of new federal ministers to portfolios vital to older Australians has been described as “interesting” by over 50s lobby group, National Seniors Australia.
Scott Morrison moves from the portfolio of Minister for Immigration to Minister for Social Services.
“Areas critical to older Australians – namely health, pensions, retirement savings and financial advice – are now all being covered by three new ministers,” says Michael O'Neill, National Seniors chief executive.
New ministers in key seniors related portfolios include:
- Scott Morrison as Minister for Social Services (formerly Minister for Immigration);
- Sussan Ley as Minister for Health (formerly Assistant Minister for Education with responsibility for childcare);
- Josh Frydenberg as Assistant Treasurer (formerly Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with responsibility for deregulation).
Mr Morrison has been appointed the Minister for Social Services, taking on an expanded portfolio which includes welfare, families, child care and the paid parental leave scheme.
It puts Mr Morrison at the centre of the government's agenda next year, fresh from his successes in Immigration.
Significantly, the Prime Minister has made it clear Mr Morrison will be given leeway to negotiate the proposed changes to pensions and unemployment benefits that are not yet through the Senate.
“Despite impressive backgrounds, Scott Morrison and Sussan Ley have little relevant experience in pensions, health and aged care,” Mr O'Neill says.
“They’re an unknown – and how they plan to handle contentious, unresolved budget changes will define the year ahead,” he says.
With high long term mature age unemployment rates in mind, Mr O’Neill welcomed the Prime Minister’s jobs focus in the reshuffle.
“We’re optimistic that the Prime Minister’s jobs emphasis indicates a commitment to building on the Restart employer wage subsidy introduced for older workers in 2014,” Mr O'Neill says.
“National Seniors looks forward to working constructively with the new ministers in 2015,” he adds.
