A private member’s motion introduced to parliament calling for the establishment of a portfolio and minister for older Australians has attracted support from advocacy groups. But how would such a ministry work?
Independent MP for the seat of Mayo and longtime seniors advocate Rebekha Sharkie introduced the private member’s bill in parliament last week and said implementing the bill would “demonstrate the government’s commitment to older people during a time of demographic change in which Australians are expected to live longer lives, but with increased reliance on key services such as health and aged care.”
The portfolio would take responsibilities from other government departments such as Health and Social Services, acting as a conduit between government and the community to better engage with older people on matters which concern them
Ms Sharkie says the portfolio would allow for a ‘whole of government’ approach to policymaking for and with older Australians.
In a practical sense, a minister for older Australians would deal with issues such as ensuring government services are accessible and inclusive for all, would champion older Australians in the media and shift the narrative of older people as vulnerable and burdensome.
Ms Sharkie’s proposal would see the new ministry work with older people and the aged care sector to address issues like age discrimination, elder abuse, social exclusion and isolation, homelessness, access to and cost of health care, and financial stress.
The proposal comes after a meeting late last year between Ms Sharkie, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the member for Kennedy, Bob Katter and representatives from older people’s advocacy group National Seniors Australia (NSA).
Current Mr Grice backed Ms Sharkie’s plan saying that now is the time to plan for Australia’s increasingly older population and that older Australians deserved a minister dedicated to their needs.
“The number of people aged 65+ is expected to grow by 2.35 million by 2041, and those aged 85+ expected to grow by almost 750,000 over the same time,” he says.
“We need to plan for this impact and opportunity now.
Mr Grice says although the wider public may not see the value in such a ministry, a dedicated minister for Older Australians would be able to paint a better picture of older people to the public than general media normally shows.
“There is also a misconception older Australians are living well off high inflation,” Mr Grice says.
“However, pressures from rising private health insurance costs, and out-of-pocket expenses, rising living costs including rent, fuel, and grocery increases erode most of these gains.”
For now, the proposal to create a dedicated government portfolio for older Australians is just that – a proposal. But it’s a proposal now written into the records of parliament, where debate can proceed, and hopefully real change can be made.
Do you think we need a minister for older Australians? What else could the portfolio cover? Let us know in the comments section below.