Page 3519 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 September 2015
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Aged persons—policies
MR WALL: My question is to the Minister for Ageing. Minister, recent research commissioned by the Property Council of Australia showed that the ACT rated poorly compared to other jurisdictions in regard to the effectiveness of retirement living policies. Minister, why are the ACT’s retirement living policies rated so poorly in comparison to other states?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Wall for his question and his interest in ageing across the territory. I have not seen the report that Mr Wall discussed this morning, but I can advise that we have had some roundtables regarding ageing in the ACT and transferring into ageing from an older workplace. Indeed, we have had some very interesting discussions on how strategically one would transfer to an older style of workforce. We had some wonderful discussions and information provided by the business chamber in the territory and a great deal of interest on how in the future we might be able to work people through a transition program, as they get a bit older, into an ageing workforce and therefore retirement afterwards.
I will certainly have a look at the report that Mr Wall has talked about.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, why is Canberra not meeting the land demand for retirement living accommodation?
MR GENTLEMAN: I am not aware that we are not meeting the land demand. There is quite a bit of retirement building occurring at this time. In fact, even in my suburb there is a new retirement village being completed, and in the suburbs either side of me, retirement villages have been recently completed. I will certainly have a look at the amount of land available for older persons’ accommodation and see whether we are meeting those targets.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, what is the government doing to increase land availability for retirement villages?
MR GENTLEMAN: We have a planned land release program through the LDA, government agencies and the Economic Development Directorate. We work with that directorate and inside government to ensure that there is appropriate land available for older persons accommodation across the territory.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, will the shortfall in retirement living options prevent people from downsizing and ultimately mean higher aged-care costs?
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