Page 900 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 20 March 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
(a) on 21 March 2019 the Government tabled its Age-Friendly Canberra: A Vision For Our City;
(b) this Vision was created from extensive consultation with senior Canberrans, including surveys completed by over 750 respondents;
(c) this document outlines a series of principles the Government will consider when making decisions that affect not only older people, but all people in Canberra;
(d) the Vision shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring our senior Canberrans are:
(i) involved, connected and valued;
(ii) safe, secure and free from abuse and discrimination;
(iii) provided with information, services and supports which embrace diversity; and
(iv) living well in a city for all ages; and
(e) this Vision is the first step in developing an age-friendly city plan for release in 2020, which will provide a series of actions to continue to develop Canberra as an age-friendly city;
(2) further notes that:
(a) according to the ABS, within 40 years the number of Canberrans over the age of 65 will be 17.4 percent;
(b) the Government provides a large number of concessions and rebates to those most at need, including vulnerable older members of our city;
(c) the Government recently extended the General Rates Deferment Scheme to all property owners over 65, who own at least 75 percent equity in their home;
(d) the Government provides rebates of up to $700 for eligible pensioners on their rates;
(e) the Government provides concessions on utilities, including increasing the value of this concession by $50 to $654 per household from 1 July 2018; and
(f) the Government provides a full stamp duty concession for eligible pensioners who wish to downsize to housing that better suits their needs;
(g) there is a comprehensive list and extensive information about concessions and support available to eligible Canberrans, including older Canberrans, online at www.assistance.act.gov.au;
(3) further notes that:
(a) given Canberra’s ageing paths, Parliamentary Agreement Item 3.7 is ensuring that $30 million is being spent on new and upgraded cycling and walking paths as well as age-friendly suburb improvements;
(b) the Government manages approximately 3000 kilometres of community paths and is progressively upgrading and enhancing the local suburban community path network on a prioritised basis in consultation with peak seniors organisations and other stakeholders;
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video