COTA releases its Policy Recommendations for 47th Parliament – What Seniors Want

14 Apr 2022

Download the Full Agenda here 

COTA NT alongside the national network of COTAs is making twelve policy recommendations to Federal Government on behalf of senior Australians in the hope that the 47^th Parliament when formed will listen to the country’s seniors.

“COTA has twelve policy recommendations that are important not just to seniors, but to all Territory families,” said Sue Shearer, Chief Executive Officer of COTA NT.  “The key policy areas released by COTA today include ageism, aged care, retirement income, digital and social inclusion and health.

“It is time to remove ageism and elder abuse from our society. Everyone should challenge ageist attitudes in themselves and others and make ageism the problem, not a person’s age. We see elder abuse being rife in the Territory with young people financially abusing their elders and taking their pensions. And we see the most common form of elder abuse here too, that of neglect. We need to weed out this poisonous aspect of ageism as soon as possible and start educating our children to show respect and consideration for older generations, especially their kin.

“Aged care is in a major transformation stage, but we urgently need a focus on human rights in the Aged Care Act which delivers more focus on the delivery of care and more transparency for the consumer regarding their choices. Fixing the system is going to take years, so we need to start as soon as possible.

“Retirement income also needs to be addressed. Too often this has been a political football, but we need our government to seriously look at a “Pension Guarantee.” They need to stop frightening people who through no fault of their own have not been able to accumulate large amounts of super.

“A whole of government ageing strategy is needed. It should not be part of an election cycle. It should be entrenched and bipartisan, so it can truly benefit seniors now and in the future.”

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Media contact: Sue Shearer, CEO, COTA NT 08 8941 1004

Further Information: 

• COTA Australia Agenda for the next Government and Parliament on the needs of older Australians
  • Download the Full Agenda here 
  • cotant.org.au/about-us/cota-advocacy/our-policy
• Pre-Budget Submission by COTA Australia, 28 January 2022
  • cota.org.au/information/resources/submission/pre-budget-submission-2022-23
• About the COTA federation
  • cotant.org.au/about-us/cota-federation