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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3159 ..

MR KAINE (continuing):

Apart from these activities on the local scene, the ACT has been strongly represented at a series of Health Ministers forums where we welcome the opportunity to shape and drive reforms at a national level. We have participated in a review of a discussion paper titled "Bridging the Gap - Towards more Integrated Aged Care". This will lead to opportunities to negotiate specific reforms with the Commonwealth. We have been involved in consideration of a report of the Healthy Ageing Task Force, which was established in October 1996 to develop a national healthy ageing strategy as well as to develop a coordinated approach to the celebration of the International Year of Older Persons in 1999 and oversee the activities of the Australian seniors tourism scheme.

We have given consideration to the framework for the renegotiation of the new Australian health care agreement to replace the Medicare agreements after they expire in the middle of next year. The ACT also joined with other States and Territories to express concerns regarding the Commonwealth's Aged Care Bill 1997. This Act will impose significant changes to the aged care system and there is considerable concern that these changes will not have reference to the impact on related parts of the system, including community care, hospitals, housing and guardianship. Health Ministers resolved that States and Territories should be involved in a proposed Commonwealth review of the Act. It was agreed that this review should, in addition to Commonwealth requirements, monitor and review the impact of this Act on all States' and Territories' services.

In the area of education, while it is clear that considerable attention has been paid to ensuring the health of older people, it is also important that we focus upon their other needs, including welfare, education and recreational needs. In the field of general relief for older people, I think our record is a good one. The Government has maintained the level of concessions available to older people in the ACT community in receipt of a government pension or benefit in the 1997-98 budget. There is concessional bus travel on all ACTION buses and on Deane's Buslines. There is a subsidy for spectacles or contact lenses of $20 per prescription. There is a concession on motor vehicle registration - a 50 per cent concession available on the registration of one motor vehicle. There is a concession on motor vehicle drivers licences - a 50 per cent concession on the cost of that licence. There are concessions on water and sewerage rates - a rebate up to a maximum of 65 per cent each year. There is a rebate on electricity charges to a maximum of $133.70 per year. There is a rebate on electricity charges relating to a life support system to a maximum of $94.16 a year, and there is a general rates rebate of 50 per cent for existing pensioners and $250 or 50 per cent, whichever is the less, for new pensioners from 1 July 1997. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, these are quite considerable in their total.

The community services grants program funds two services which directly support the needs of aged people in the ACT. They are the ACT Council on the Ageing, which receives a $10,000 grant, and the Canberra Pensioners Social and Recreation Club, which receives an operational assistance grant of $1,500. In addition, the program funds a wide range of services which meet the needs of older people in the ACT. The seven regional community centres provide a range of programs, facilities and services, such as volunteer assistance programs, friendship and activity groups, home visiting programs, meeting facilities and education courses. Ten ethnic organisations have received funding in 1997-98, with a specific focus on communicating to members of ethnic communities,

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