Page 3219 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 October 2022

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societies have of older people, so that they are not seen as a burden on society but as the active contributors that they are and want to be. Older people often say to me that they feel invisible and unheard. This is often despite hugely successful careers in their chosen professions. Once they reach a certain age, they feel that no-one wants to listen to their opinion anymore.

I am hopeful that the Labor-Greens government will support my motion today about making Canberra more inclusive and accessible to all in the community. I commend my motion to the Assembly.

MS DAVIDSON (Murrumbidgee—Assistant Minister for Families and Community Services, Minister for Disability, Minister for Justice Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Veterans and Seniors) (3.10): I move:

Omit all words after paragraph (1)(d), substitute:

“(e) older people continue to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 compared to the general population, in terms of both health risks as well as social wellbeing and connectedness; and

(f) the ACT Government is committed to supporting older Canberrans through the Age-Friendly City Plan, Re-envisioning Older Persons Mental Health and Wellbeing in the ACT Strategy and the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing; and

(2) calls on the ACT Government to:

(a) continue to implement the Age-Friendly City Plan and Re-envisioning Older Persons Mental Health and Wellbeing in the ACT Strategy;

(b) continue consultation and the implementation of the Age Friendly Suburbs Program, which includes remediation and repair of, and new, footpaths;

(d) consider the results of the ACT Household Travel Survey with a focus on older Canberrans, to better understand their travel needs and habits;

(e) continue to work with the older community, the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing, stakeholder groups and across government, to identify the broader needs of, and supports required for, older Canberrans;

(f) write to the Australian Government in support of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons; and

(g) provide a copy of this correspondence and any response received to the Assembly by 1 March 2023.”.

I will speak to both Ms Lawder’s motion and my amendment. I welcome Ms Lawder’s interest in making Canberra an accessible, inclusive community for everyone—a place that celebrates growing older and provides support for older Canberrans to thrive.

I am very happy to support Ms Lawder’s call for the ACT government to write to the Australian government in support of a UN convention on the rights of older persons. Recognition of the human rights of our older community members is an important

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