Seniors slam calls to raise pension age
The consumer lobby for older Australians has hit back at Productivity Commission suggestions that the pension age be raised to 70 and linked to longevity to counter the costs of population ageing.
National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, warned against raising the Age Pension age without first tackling the issue of mature age unemployment.
“It is naïve to suggest that simply raising the pension age will boost productivity,” Mr O’Neill said.
“Older Australians want to work but no one will hire them. Lose your job at 50 and the odds are stacked against you getting another one”.
“Raising the pension age without providing jobs will see older Australians merely shifted from one form of welfare to another,” he said.
In 2012, the over 55s represented a fifth of those out of work for two years and living off Newstart Allowance. More than half of those on the Disability Support Pension – which is not activity tested – are aged over 50.
The Productivity Commission report, An Ageing Australia Preparing for the Future, claims Australia faces a major economic slowdown without policy interventions such as raising the pension age and using equity in the family home to pay for health and aged care.
