Page 5593 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010

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(3) notes:

(a) that the population of aged people in Canberra is anticipated to increase in coming years; and

(b) the establishment of an Older Persons’ Assembly in Scotland in 2009; and

(4) supports the establishment of an Older Persons’ Assembly to be convened for one day annually at the ACT Legislative Assembly that:

(a) is coordinated by the ACT Government in consultation with the Speaker and peak ageing and seniors’ organisations;

(b) is a cross-electorate forum that involves a public nomination process for attendees, and representatives of peak ageing and seniors’ organisations in the selection of representatives;

(d) will have all motions and recommendations responded to by the ACT Government within three months.

The Greens have put forward this motion today as we know that in the ACT, across the country and across the world our population is ageing. We need to address as a community the types of services we are going to provide and the way we are going to engage older people. An older people’s assembly for the ACT will provide an opportunity for older people to debate the issues that are important to them and affect their lives, for members and ministers to hear these issues and for government to respond to the older people’s assembly’s recommendations.

It is reported that the ACT has one of the fastest growing populations of people aged 60 years and over in Australia and it is estimated that this will grow from 15.8 per cent in 2010 to 22 per cent by 2030. This fact alone will have great social, political and economic significance for the ACT. In the context of an ageing population in the ACT, it is timely that we further investigate ways to meet their needs. It is vitally important that we also look at ways to improve social contact and mental stimulation for the health of older people. Older people have a lot to contribute to our community and it is our responsibility as political leaders to listen to what they have to say.

Before exploring the dynamics of an older people’s assembly, I would like to read a statement that was made by Alex Fergusson, member of the Scottish parliament on the opening of their Older People’s Assembly, as I believe it captures many of the challenges we face in Australia. He stated:

The challenge, I would suggest, is not that our population is ageing but that as a society we have perhaps not given enough thought to the positive aspects an ageing population can bring. Nor have we given enough thought to its particular needs or even considered how to capitalise on the skills and experience an older

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