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
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.
ACCC shows Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission the way on BUPA
Published 16 April 2019
“The spanking new Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has been shown up for what it is: an already tired re-iteration of its predecessor the Aged Care Quality Accreditation Agency and a watchdog lacking teeth and growl”, said Paul Versteege, Policy Manager for the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA). [more]
Budget reply fails 185,000 Clayton’s Age Pensioners
Published 5 April 2019
“While there were many good things in the Opposition’s Budget reply speech, it failed to say anything meaningful about Newstart, the Clayton’s Age Pension, which is the 60% pension you get when you don’t get a pension”, said Paul Versteege, Policy Manager for the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association. [more]
Budget right of reply must address: Newstart, Aged Care, Public Dental, Affordable Housing
Published 4 April 2019
“There are encouraging reports about the federal opposition committing to increased health funding, but simply increasing funding for Medicare is not enough”, said Paul Versteege, Policy Manager for the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association. [more]
Budget 2019: When a tax cut is the unkindest cut of all
Published 2 April 2019
“A one-off Energy Assistance Payment is about the only thing that pensioners and carers take away from a Budget that ignores the aged care, the inadequacy of Newstart, the lack of a decent national public dental scheme and the urgent need for affordable housing to be addressed at a national level”, said Paul Versteege, Policy Manager for the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association. [more]
Isn’t it time to kick BUPA out of the aged care industry?
Published 13 March 2019
Nine out of seventy Australian BUPA nursing homes are currently under sanctions. The question is: why is BUPA to allow to continue operating as an aged care provider at all?
Government must adopt all Productivity Commission superannuation overhaul recommendations
Published 10 January 2019
“The recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the efficiency and competitiveness of the superannuation industry should be the blueprint for superannuation reform in 2019”, said CPSA Policy Manager Paul Versteege. [more]
10,000 Home Care Packages but still no plan
Published 17 December 2018
“The Government still has no plan how to help the 82,000 people who will still be waiting after the allocation of 10,000 new high-level Home Care Packages announced today”, said Policy Manager Paul Versteege.
Correcting the record on Home Care Packages
Published 3 December 2018
“Claims in a media release by Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt MP (Record Growth in Seniors Receiving Home Care Packages, 29 November 2018) are in need of correction”, said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege. [more]
Fees for Paper Bills Fiasco
Published 12 November 2018
“The decision by Australian federal and state and territory Ministers for Consumer Affairs to ‘encourage businesses not to charge vulnerable or disadvantaged consumers to receive paper bills’ is a classic example of a do-nothing policy”, said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege. [more]
Knee MRI referrals by GPs should stay: pensioners
Published 17 October 2018
“Cancellation of MRI referrals by GPs for patients 50-and-older from 1 November 2018 is age discriminatory”, said CPSA Policy Manager Paul Versteege.
Aged Care post-ABC4Corners: Action now, Royal Commission later!
Published 24 September 2018
“Monday night’s second ABC 4Corners program on aged care has shown in detail just how bad things are in Australia’s nursing homes. CPSA has said it many times: nursing homes are dangerous places and unsuitable for purpose”, said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege. [more]
Royal Commission? Great But We Need Action Now!
Published 18 September 2018
"Monday night's ABC 4Corners program has shown in graphic detail just how bad things are in many of Australia's nursing homes, with relatives of residents resorting to planting secret cameras to record the evidence of violence and neglect perpetrated against their loved ones", said CPSA Policy Coordinator Paul Versteege. [more]
Pensioners Put Their Hand Up for Aged Care Royal Commission Terms of Reference
Published 17 September 2018
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. [more]
Royal Commission into Aged Care: This is What We’ve Been Working For – Pensioners
Published 16 September 2018
"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.
Survey: Digital Assets After Death or Incapacity
Published 10 September 2018
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.
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