In parliament on Wednesday, Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie introduced Private Members Business calling on the Government to establish a portfolio and Minister for Older Australians.
The function of the portfolio would be to:
- 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;
- act as a conduit between Government and the community to better engage with older people on matters which concern them, beyond aged care, and enable a whole of Government approach to policy-making for and with older Australians across multiple sectors and Government agencies;
- ensure Government services are accessible and inclusive for all including those who may not have ease of digital access or may be experiencing hearing or vision loss;
- champion our older Australians and shift the narrative of older people as vulnerable and in need of support (a 'burden') to more positive aspects of ageing and the contribution older people make to the economy and society;
- work with older people and the sector to address key issues including age discrimination, elder abuse, social exclusion and isolation, homelessness, access to and cost of health care, and financial stress; and
- reframe the current narrative to recognise that older people helped to build our nation and continue to represent some of our greatest assets, rather than promoting intergenerational competition or conflict.
The MP is a longstanding advocate for older Australians. She has previously called on the Government for greater regulation of retirement villages and greater transparency in the aged care sector. She was also an early advocate for the capping of home care management fees, which came into effect last year.
