Publications > Press Articles 2002

Golden oldies

Letter published in The Age, 3 October 2002

Tom Keneally is spot on with his observations on the positives of ageing and warning against government scaremongering (Age Opinion, 1 October, 2002).

COTA has repeatedly warned others not to be tricked into thinking, or trying to trick others - that we cannot 'afford' our ageing population.

The coming generation of older Australians will by and large be healthier and wealthier than ever before. They will not be a burden on younger generations, rather, their consumption will assist in raising living standards.

Too much of the population ageing debate focuses on costs rather than the economic contributions made by older people. A study in Australasian Journal on Ageing your paper reported on 30 September shows that the economic value of productive activities undertaken by older people far outweighs the costs of their health and aged care.

COTA policies encourage changes in labour market, taxation, welfare and superannuation policies to enable older people to remain in the workforce longer, if this is their wish, and to assist women to combine motherhood with paid employment. This will increase the number of taxpayers, as well as reducing the numbers seeking government retirement support.

Far from being "a pain in the fiscal backside" older people have a lot to offer.

Helen Scott, Information Manager
Council on the Ageing (Australia)

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