Raise the rate of Newstart: 185,000 over-55s are on it
Published 22 July 2019
Pensioners have one simple message to their federal politicians: raise the rate of Newstart, because it’s too low for everyone, including 185,000 Australians over-55, many of whom will never be able find work again.
Publish nursing home staffing ratios, pensioners say
Published 22 July 2019
Pensioners are calling on Federal MPs and Senators to support the Private Member’s Bill to be introduced into Federal Parliament today by South Australian Independent Rebekha Sharkie. The Bill makes it compulsory for nursing homes to publicly disclose their staffing ratios. [more]
Beware of Government’s questionable deeming calculations
Published 14 July 2019
The reductions in the deeming rates are obviously going to produce better outcomes for affected pensioners, but over-deeming will still be rife.
Queensland nursing home residents abandoned in act of extreme elder abuse: Disqualify People Care Ltd, pensioners say
Published 12 July 2019
Queensland nursing home residents abandoned in act of extreme elder abuse: Disqualify People Care Ltd, pensioners say
Find your rebates and discounts!
Published 26 June 2019
THE NSW Government is now helping you find rebates and savings that are relevant to you. Service NSW has rolled out its Cost of Living service, which can identify which of the 70 rebates and savings you are eligible for.
Save on energy with NSW Energy Switch
Published 26 June 2019
ENERGY Switch is a free Service NSW online tool that allows you to compare the electricity and gas plans of all NSW household electricity providers, and switch effortlessly to a different plan if you want to.
Bupa Traralgon Class Action
Published 26 June 2019
BUPA aged care is in trouble. Eleven out of 76 are currently the subject of compliance action and a further 19 have been the subject of compliance action in recent times.
Aged care: is a blunt instrument being sharpened?
Published 26 June 2019
How much does it cost to look after a nursing home resident given their health and needs? The current system comes up with a figure, but nobody really knows what it is based on. Time to change from a blunt funding instrument to a sharp one. [more]
Regional Transport Seniors Card: $250
Published 26 June 2019
STARTING on 1 January 2020, the Regional Transport Seniors Card will provide a credit of $250 a year to be used towards fuel, taxi fares in rural and regional NSW and pre-booked NSW TrainLink train and coach services.
Government sets itself up for unreal retirement income review
Published 26 June 2019
WHAT is the point of a review of how the pension, superannuation and tax interact when you say upfront that you are not going to change superannuation and you're not going to change tax?
NBN: landline phone only options
Published 26 June 2019
YOU are going to have to engage with the NBN if you want to keep your good old-fashioned home telephone. That old telephone will run through the NBN internet network, whether you have a computer or not.
Digital life after death
Published 26 June 2019
WHAT happens to our online accounts when we die? With so much information and transaction being online these days, you want to find out.
Class action to claim back lost pension entitlements
Published 11 June 2019
An Age Pensioner has been successful in claiming back substantial pension reductions after Centrelink incorrectly assessed an inheritance received by them.
RBA cut: Government must lower pension deeming rates now!
Published 4 June 2019
With one interest rate now announced and another one or two coming, it’s time the Government reviewed the deeming rates used to assess the income pensioners get from their bank accounts and term deposits.
Bupa Willoughby: why mandatory staff ratios are the only way
Published 28 May 2019
Bupa Willoughby's evidence at the Royal Commission into Aged Care is proof that putting nursing homes in charge of setting their own staffing ratios represents a severe case of handing over the keys to the blood bank to Count Dracula. [more]
ACCC takes BUPA to court
Published 28 May 2019
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking Bupa Aged Care Australia Pty Ltd to court. That's something the spick-spanking new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission can't do.
Legislation for publication of aged care staff ratios reintroduced
Published 28 May 2019
RE-ELECTED South Australian Federal Member, Rebekha Sharkie will reintroduce her Staffing Ratio Disclosure Bill. The Bill will require aged care facilities to publish staff-to-resident ratios on the My Aged Care website.
Specialists still free to charge fees as they please
Published 28 May 2019
Medical specialists can and do charge like wounded bulls. Beware those without health insurance. The Government is throwing a price-comparison website at the problem. Will this make specialist medical care more affordable?
Will I get Alzheimer’s?
Published 28 May 2019
Now there's a question. Wouldn't it be nice if by just playing a game on your mobile you could settle that question once and for all? Sea Quest Hero promises to do just that, but how realistic is this claim?
Are mobility scooters for daredevils only?
Published 28 May 2019
Mobility scooters look as benign as dodge'm cars, but overseas evidence suggests they are potential death traps.
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