OLDER AUSTRALIANS DESERVE RESPECT FROM THE MORRISON GOVERNMENT

November 20, 2019

If the Morrison Government wants to effectively deal with the challenges facing Australia’s ageing population, then it must start by facing some hard economic truths of their own making, and they must understand the value of older Australians to our nation, treating them with respect.
 
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg this week described older Australians as a burden commenting that he wants to “continue to see more Australians stay engaged in work for longer.”
 
Instead of denigrating older Australians, the Morrison Government must deal with the serious structural problems facing the economy and the labour market, which are preventing many Australians, particularly those aged over 55 years, getting work.
 
Under the Morrison Government almost 2 million Australians are looking for work or for more work because the economy is floundering on the Liberals' watch.
 
There are more than 267,000 Australians aged 55 years plus who are looking for work, or more work, but unable to find it. More than 73,000 more than when the Liberals were first elected.
 
You never hear these figures from this Government.
 
Having built and contributed to the country we live in today, older Australians are invaluable in our workplaces, homes and communities.
 
It is clear the Treasurer simply doesn’t get the extent of age discrimination faced by older workers – one quarter of Newstart recipients are over the age of 55 – and the number of over-55s on Newstart has surged by a staggering 45 per cent under the Liberals and Nationals.
 
The solution is not as simple as stating that older Australians should stay in work for longer.
 
If the Treasurer seriously respected older Australians he would address the unacceptable number of older Australians waiting for home care.
 
This is from the Government that continues to fail to act on the urgent actions from the Royal Commission into aged care.
 
This government has a history of talking about older Australians like they are a burden. They have used this rhetoric to justify cutting the aged pension, and trying to increase the pension age to 70.
 
The Morrison Government should not blame older people for their own failure to ensure there are decent, well paid jobs, or for the fact they cannot control soaring household bills, high rents, out of pocket medical costs.
 
Australians, particularly those aged 55 years and older are struggling, and the economy is floundering – but try telling that to Scott Morrison and the Liberals who are sitting on their hands and hoping the economy fixes itself.