Seniors groups differ on Budget’s effect on seniors

COTA Over 50s saw positives and missed opportunities in the Federal Budget for 2006-07 while National Seniors still seek indexation of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

The executive director, policy, of COTA Over 50s, Patricia Reeve, saw positives in the Budget but that more needed to be done.

She said the positives included improvements in aged care and medical services for aged care residents, indigenous health services, Medicare payments, hearing services, continence aids, and prevention of chronic disease.

COTA Over 50s welcomed the budget as a “significant step” towards ensuring a high quality aged care system because it was fair to seniors, supported services for disadvantaged groups including indigenous and homeless people, and emphasised community care packages and high care accommodation.

“At the same time we feel that the Government has overlooked the desperate situation of many low income Australians. An increase in single age pensions and access to basic dental services for people on low incomes remain the biggest challenges for many older people.

“The Government has extended its range of incentives for people to save for retirement but has not moved to provide basic income security for those who are not able to make such investments. The one-off $500 sweetener of the Seniors’ bonus does not meet the need for income security to ensure a basic standard of living for today’s older people,” Ms Reeve said.

Michael O’Neill, chief executive of National Seniors, welcomed the seniors’ bonus payments and the dental changes, but wanted to see the Government index the Seniors Card.