Strategic Ageing:

Australian Issues in Ageing is a series of occasional papers on major policy issues concerning older people.

Annual subscription A$33 inc. GST
Single issues $11 inc GST. Order form at bottom of page.

Vol 15 | Vol 14 | Vol 13 | Vol 12 | Vol 11 | Vol 5 | Vol 9 | Vol 8 | Vol 7 | Vol 6 | Vol 5 | Vol 4 | Vol 3 | Vol 2 | Vol 1 |

Vol.15/2002 Superannuation and standards of living in retirement.

Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Superannuation Inquiry into Standards of living in retirement and factors contributing to it

The Inquiry was asked to look into The adequacy of the tax arangements for superannuation and related policy to address the retirement incomes and aged and health care needs of Australians.

If the goals for retired people to receive at least a modest but adequate income and appropriate health and aged care are to become a reality, appropriate polices are needed. These policies must protect the disadvantaged, avoid intergenerational inequity, and contribute towards maintaining a just and equitable society. At the same time, there must be an acceptable balance between private and public contributions to both retirement income provision and meeting the costs of health and aged care in the context of an ageing population and increasing longevity. This publication aims to contribute towards and advance discussion and debate on these important policy issues.

Submissions to the Senate Inquiry are available online at www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/superannuation_ctte/living_standards/Submissions/sublist.htm

Vol.14/2001. Enough to live on: a retirement incomes policy framework for the 21^st century: two submissions.

1. Response to Independence and Self-Provision discussion paper for the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. 2. Retirement incomes, housing and support for older Australians: submission to Federal Budget 2001-2002.

The first submission ref1ects COTA 's long term of view of how the Government needs to plan for retirement incomes well into the 21st century. The second submission was presented to the Federal Government with a compendium of recommendations for uptake in the Budget of May 2001 . It reflects COTA's short term priorities in retirement incomes, housing and social support, the program areas managed by the Department of Family and Community Services.

Vol.13/2001. Looking up and looking out: frameworks for positive ageing in the 21^st century: two submissions.

1. Response to Healthy Ageing discussion paper for the National Strategy for and Ageing Australia. 2. Response to Attitude. Life-style and Community Support discussion paper of the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia.

The first submission reflects COTA's long term of view of how we can achieve the highest quality of life for older Australians via a framework for healthy ageing. Healthy ageing in Aboriginal communities is also discussed.
The second submission was presented to the Federal Government in 2001. It takes forward and expands many of the themes developed in the Healthy Ageing submission but has a unique emphasis on the social, family and community participation of older Australians. It encompasses promoting positive attitudes to ageing, building social capital via appropriate community services, supporting the role of older people in families, access to information and technology, lifelong learning and retirement.

Vol.12/2001. Older Australians: an agenda for the new millenium on health and aged care: two submissions.

1. World class care: response to National Strategy for an Ageing Australia discussion paper. 2. Submission to Federal Budget 2001-2002.

The first submission reflects COTA 's long term of view of how the Government needs to plan for health and aged care well into the 21st century. The second submission was presented to the Federal Government in 2001 with a compendium of recommendations for uptake in the Budget of 22 May 2001. It reflects COTA 's short term priorities in health and aged care. Some of these recommendations were taken up in the 2001 Federal Budget brought down on 22 May. There is a small degree of overlap between these two papers.

Vol.11/2001. Investing in the future: Australia's ageing workforce: two submissions.

1. A response to Employment for Mature Age Workers issues paper for the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. 2. Federal Budget submission, 2001-2002. The first submission reflects COTA's long term of view of how the Government needs to lead the issue of mature age employment into the 21st century. The second submission was presented to the Federal Government in 2001 with a compendium of recommendations for uptake in the Budget of 2 May 2001. It reflects COTA's view of what needs to be done in the here and now in terms of older workers and management of an ageing workforce. A number of these recommendations were taken up in the Welfare Reform package announced in the Federal Budget.

These submissions are available individually online as Budget submissions and submissions to the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia - see the Publications list.

Vol 10/2000 - Older Australians: a working future? The ageing population and work in the 21st century

Deputy Director Veronica Sheen prepared this paper for presentation at the Committee of Economic Development (CED) international conference on the Ageing of the Global Workforce, Washington, September 2000. It provides background information and analyses the issues around an ageing workforce. Characteristics of older workers in the Australian labour market and the pre-retirement/retirement interface are described. It outlines the reality of age discrmination and offers constructive suggestions for improving the position of older workers in Australia. Jointly published with the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA).

Vol 9/99 - Older Australians: working for the future

Presents two submissions written by COTA's national Policy Officer Veronica Sheen for the House of Representatives inquiry into issues specific to older workers seeking employment or establishing a business, following unemployment. It consists of two components - issues raised by mature aged people in focus groups, and policy recommendations directed to the Federal Government for action.

Vol 8/99 - Seniors in Cyberspace – older people and information

A definitive review by COTA's Information Manager Helen Scott which provides answers about the information needs of older people; how they find out about services; how to promote services and present material better. Best approaches to disseminating information are discussed and examples of current information services described. The paper also focuses on seniors' attitudes to new technology, and how they use computers and the Internet. It describes innovative programs currently operating to help older people make the most of IT, and outlines possible future scenarios. Senior surfers are one of the fastest growing groups on the World Wide Web and the paper highlights the development of some relevant sites.

Vol 7/99 - Valuing older Australians: 1999-2000 Federal Budget submission

Outlines COTA's recommendations for achieving the key goals outlined by the United Nations for International Year of Older Persons. Click here for a summary

Vol 6/98 - Challenges and changes: tax reform; competitive tendering; public dental care

Three submissions to the Commonwealth Government written in 1998 which demonstrate that the well-being of older people is a responsibility across many levels of government. Tax Reform and Older Australians was written for the Government's Tax Consultative Task Force in February 1998. The second paper, Competitive Tendering: For Better or Worse for Frail Older People, examines the potential effects of changes in arrangements for the delivery of aged services under policies of competitive tendering and contracting out. It was written in August 1997 for the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs Inquiry into Competitive Tendering of Welfare Service Delivery. The third paper, Public Dental Care: Responding to the Needs of Older People, was submitted to the Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee Inquiry in Public Dental Services in February 1998. It shows that for an adequate level of dental care older people need good public dental services. A copy of the transcript of COTA representatives discussing the issues with the Committee at the public hearing in March is attached.

Vol 5/98 - Restoring Security for Older Australians: 1998-99 Commonwealth Budget Submission

COTA puts forward a series of proposals that it believes would rebuild the confidence of older people. There is a crisis in confidence amongst seniors due to cuts in services, the Government's miscalculation with aged care reforms and the portrayal of older people as a problem for the economy. Recommendations are made across a range of Commonweatlh policy and program areas.

Vol 4/97 - The 1997-98 Budget: Year 2 of the Coalition Reforms provides an update on government policy by analysing the 1997-98 Federal Budget and its impact on older Australians. It includes tables showing expenditure on major programs affecting older people from 1994-95 to 1997-98, and perspectives from other aged care and seniors' groups. Professor Hal Kendig writes a guest editorial.

Vol 3/97 - Commonwealth Budget Submission for Older Australians 1997-98 describes the policy changes in key Commonwealth Departments. It makes recommendations in the context of these changes for the 1997-98 Budget.

Vol 2/96 - Changing Aged Care, discusses the Coalition Government reforms to aged care. Improvements in services to older people will be dependent on how these are managed at Commonwealth and State levels. COTA argues that the Commonwealth must take responsibility for policy development and maintenance of standards. Find out how COAG, the National Commission of Audit and the Budget process have affected the reform process.

Vol 1/96 - Competition, Commercialization and Citizens . The author, Ian McAuley, argues "how we must not critically embrace the current philosophies of commercialization, privatisation, contracting-out, managerialism and purchaser-provider split without attempting to influence the path of reform" to benefit consumers.

ISSN 1325-4359

Subscription A$33.00 per year
Single issues $11

To subscribe, contact COTA (Australia) or fill in the subscription form and send to:

Council on the Ageing (Australia)
Level 2, 3 Bowen Crescent, Melbourne 3004
Tel 03 9820 2655 Fax 03 9820 9886
Email cota@cota.org.au

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