Election 2013: Who cares about the Seniors?

Twelve days after the Federal Election was called, its becoming clear that the issues of those over 60 are not even on the radar of the major political parties.

We’ve had a policy pitch from Abbott pledging a cut to company tax rates, and a pledge from Kevin Rudd to review gay marriage within 90 days of taking power.

The Rudd Government has pledged new Universities to two marginal seats, money to fight foetal alcohol abuse and stem the rise of HIV, and a300 million dollar extension to the offerings of after school Care for parents of young children.  Millions have been allocated by Labour to to train almost 7000 manufacturing workers to shift from low tech to high tech.

Both parties have pledged asylum seeker solutions, or different kinds.

The Labour party will give us NBN full bore, and the Liberals will give us fibre to the node…

Under Abbott there’ll be a new indigenous advisory board, and an upgrade to Hobart airport and put an end to the carbon tax and the mining tax in their current forms.

But the most important thing to note is that there has been nothing, not a single mention of seniors and what they need from their government and the community around them as they become one of the largest and fastest growing demographics in our country.

Australians over sixty years of age make up more than 19% of the population in 2013 and a much greater percentage of the voting public. And they have plenty of worries as they get older.  Some can barely afford to live in comfortable accommodation on the minimal pension they receive.  Some grapple every day with terrible loneliness and isolation.  And some struggle under the weight of having to work longer than any person has been expected to before to afford their debts and responsibilities that have been hardened by the GFC and the economic circumstances since.

Many can’t get a satisfying job, nor are they given significant retraining to assist them in maintaining a satisfying twilight career.  Job losses often see the seniors sacked first, a sad demonstration of the declining respect for our elders.

Those reliant on the public health system are worried about the length of the waiting lists, and the lack of public dental care which often stops someone who might need to have surgery from being able to get it.  And those relying on private insurance are worried about the ever increasing costs of accessing private health care and the rising costs of insurance. Aged care is a huge issue, as is the provision of adequate care and support for in-home living.

All the while, the government is advertising to people smugglers on Australian television, Kevin Rudd is running ads that denigrate Abbott after promising he wouldn’t stoop this far, and Newscorp’s editorial team is running a public national election campaign for Abbott.   Still, no one talks about the big issues facing almost 25% of the population.

But who cares about the Seniors?  And what matters to you as a Senior?  Let’s lobby the two parties and let them know we exist… Tell us the areas you hope to see policy that will help over 60s.