Today CPSA is releasing the letter it has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrisson to offer CPSA's participation in the drafting of the Terms of Reference of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. A copy of the letter is attached to this release:
"Today's announcement of a Royal Commission into Aged Care is welcomed by the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA)", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege.
CPSA is undertaking a survey to find out what our members and constituents want to happen to their digital assets (online accounts such as emails, social media and bank accounts) upon death or incapacity.
"CPSA welcomes that the Australian Government has finally seen sense and ditched its plan to increase the Age Pension age to 70", said CPSA Policy Coordinator, Paul Versteege.
"CPSA supports the Private Members' Bill introduced by Cathy McGowan to establish a social security commission", said CPSA Policy Coordinator, Paul Versteege.
“CPSA welcomes a Private Member’s Bill being introduced into Federal Parliament today by Independent MP Rebekha Sharkie which will force aged care providers to publicly disclose their staffing ratios,” said CPSA Policy Coordinator, Paul Versteege.
"Overall, the number of people waiting for a Home Care Package (HCP) has increased by a massive 3.7% in a single quarter, from 104,602 to 108,456” said CPSA Policy Coordinator, Paul Versteege.
"CPSA is calling on the Australian Government to employ a further 2,500 staff to its Centrelink call centres to answer the 44 million calls annually that simply ring out", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege.
"Services like Centrelink and Medicare have achieved huge operational cost savings by moving their customer interface online. However, access to the online customer interface comes at a cost to pensioners and other low income households", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege.
"CPSA welcomes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's report that describes the current situation of high electricity prices and bills as unacceptable and unsustainable", said policy officer, Bronagh Power.
"The NSW 2018-2019 budget hasn't committed enough funding to significantly improve access to housing, dental health services, palliative care and accessible transport in NSW", said CPSA Policy Officer Bronagh Power.
"CPSA welcomes the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's comments that the Labor Party will consider a Royal Commission into aged care", said CPSA Policy Officer Bronagh Power.
"All in all, for older Australians, Budget 2018 does not live up to the hype that preceded its release. Measures related to aged care, the Pension Loans Scheme and Work Bonus are minor", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege.
CPSA will be in Canberra on Budget night to provide comment on measures affecting pensioners and retirees, particularly those on low to mid incomes.
CPSA has been asked by the NSW Government to provide a report on the impact of the death of a close person such as a spouse or parent on the social lives, health and personal finances of older people, and recommend changes to Government policy.
"The new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission announced today will not change what happens in nursing homes and will not change the quality of care provided, because aged care standards are left untouched", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege.
"CPSA welcomes the continued availability to pensioners of cashbacks as part of dividend imputation under proposed reforms by the Australian Labor Party", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege.
'CPSA generally supports proposals to close tax loopholes and repair the Budget, but warns that the proposed dividend imputation reform may have some unintended consequences', said Senior Policy Officer Eliza Littleton.
"CPSA calls for a bi-partisan approach on aged care quality. Our politicians must do three things and do them now:
"CPSA welcomes the interim report regarding Effectiveness of the Aged Care Quality Assessment and accreditation framework by the Senate Committee on Community Affairs. As the report demonstrates, incidents like Oakden can occur for years right under the nose of regulators. Accreditation does not evaluate the actual care and support residents receive, rather the process focuses heavily on paperwork and ticking boxes", said CPSA Policy Officer, Eliza Littleton.