Older voters call for action on cost of living, housing, and ageism ahead of the Federal Election

With the Federal Election now just weeks away, older Australians are making it clear: the rising cost of living is the number one issue they want politicians to address.

Recent polling commissioned by COTA Australia reveals that older voters are prioritising basic day-to-day expenses — groceries, energy bills, and healthcare — when deciding who gets their vote on May 3.

Top election concerns for older Australians include:

• Cost of groceries and essentials is the leading concern for Australians aged 50 and over. 61 per cent rank it in their top three issues, while nearly 31 per cent say it’s their single most important concern.
• Energy costs come in second, with 43 per cent placing them high on their priorities.
• Healthcare and medicines follow closely, with 35 per cent of older Australians listing them as a key issue.
• Housing is also on the radar, especially for older renters. Nearly half (49 per cent) of older Australians who rent say housing cost and availability is of major concern.
• Ageism remains a persistent issue, with 57 per cent of older Australians seeing it as a problem in society. 60 per cent believe a national plan is needed to tackle it, and 30 per cent say they’ve personally experienced ageism in the past five years — a number that rises to 40 per cent among those facing serious financial hardship.

COTA Australia CEO Patricia Sparrow says the results are a clear message to all parties: older Australians expect meaningful action.

“We know cost of living pressures are hurting people of all ages, and older people are no different. The top three issues older voters will have on their minds when they’re standing at the ballot box are all cost of living related,” Sparrow said.

“We’ve already seen some good cost of living measures announced by our politicians, but we’re looking forward to seeing more including on things like the introduction of a Seniors Dental Benefit Scheme and targeted housing support.”

With Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing that the election will be held on May 3, older Australians now have limited time to assess who’s best placed to ease financial pressure and ensure their needs are met.

Albanese will be aiming to secure back-to-back victories, hoping to become the first prime minister since John Howard to win consecutive elections. Meanwhile, Peter Dutton will be striving to lead the coalition back to power after just one term in opposition, with hopes of becoming Australia’s 32nd prime minister.