Page 694 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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A complete review of all concessions on ACT Government services will be undertaken, starting now, to provide more equitable relief to those in need. The priority areas will be transport and energy concessions. Obviously, both of these areas impact heavily on the ageing population.
We recognise that about 60 per cent of the elderly ACT residents receive the age pension which is only 25 per cent of the average weekly wage. This means that 60 per cent of elderly ACT residents are arguably below the poverty line. There are many others on fixed incomes - for example, superannuants - who also live in, or on the verge of, poverty but whose needs are less visible because they are not eligible for most concessions.
Income support is in the Commonwealth's domain. I assure you that we will continue to make representations to the Commonwealth on such matters as the adequacy of the pension, improving incentives to save for retirement, providing opportunities for better use of savings during retirement, ensuring that the labour force is covered by superannuation and that the superannuation benefits are improved, ensuring that women have better opportunities to save for retirement, and providing better employment opportunities for older workers.
In relation to human rights, we will produce a consultation paper on age discrimination, which will cover the inquiry's recommendation on antidiscrimination. We will introduce general antidiscrimination legislation. We have already introduced legislation to allow enduring power of attorney, thus allowing planning for the future.
Over two-thirds of Australians over the age of 65 own their homes, but lowered income severely restricts housing choices and the ability to maintain owner-occupied dwellings. The elderly in the private rental market are recognised as a highly poverty-prone group. Access to adequate and affordable housing is essential if the elderly are to maintain self-esteem and dignity and continue to participate in society.
We have recently signed an agreement with the Commonwealth, which guarantees maintenance of funding levels for the next three years. This enables us to prepare a housing plan for the ageing. The plan will examine home equity conversion schemes, improved house modification arrangements under the home and community care program, and the role of the private sector in self-care accommodation and joint ventures. We will also examine the NCDC consultancy report, the "Review of Aged Persons' Housing Services in the ACT", in line with the inquiry's recommendation. Under the review of housing policy we will be looking at ways of reducing the after-housing costs poverty trap, particularly for the ageing.
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