Publications

CPSA publications relevant to pensioners, superannuants and low-income retirees in Australia

Submission to the Australian Energy Regulator Developing the Better Bills Guideline

Published 6 September 2021

Submission to the Australian Energy Regulator Developing the Better Bills Guideline

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Submission Federal Treasury Retirement Income Covenant

Published 6 August 2021

As the position paper on the Retirement Income Covenant notes, the recent Retirement Income Review suggested that the retirement income system providing income in retirement is the fundamental role of compulsory superannuation, but that 30 years since its introduction “the retirement phase of superannuation remains under-developed”. [more]

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How sure are you that you will never move again?

Published 30 June 2021

Living in a home that is accessible is key to maintaining independence as you age. This booklet aims to give you a list of things to consider about your home or any home you might be considering moving into. It’s not exhaustive but is intended as an introduction to home accessibility for older people. [more]

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Submission to the Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal’s Review of Competition, Costs and Pricing in the Funeral Industry – Comments on draft report

Published 6 May 2021

In our initial submission, we argued that (1) the NSW funeral industry should have a primary regulator with jurisdiction over the providers of funerals, interments and cremations, and (2) that Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) is the agency best placed to be that primary regulator. [more]

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Submission to Supporting older Australians – exempting granny flat arrangements from Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Published 6 March 2021

CPSA understands the decision to not require specific terms to be included in granny flat arrangements in the interest of flexibility. However, there should be a requirement that all parties must be referred to materials that outline all possible negative outcomes, a sort of worst-case scenario list, before entering a granny flat arrangement. [more]

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Response to the Discussion Paper Statutory Review of the Residential (Land Lease) Communities Act 2013

Published 6 March 2021

CPSA’s members and constituency are for the most part older low-income retirees. As land lease communities are, under this Act, portrayed as affordable living arrangements, CPSA has a strong interest in ensuring legislation protects the interests of land lease residents many of whom live on low, fixed incomes such as the Age Pension. [more]

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Submission to NSW Treasury concerning the NSW Government’s Property Tax proposal

Published 6 March 2021

Regardless of the larger economic benefits of the property tax proposed by the NSW Government, as more and more properties are opted into the property tax, eventually hundreds of thousands of low-income households will not be able to pay it. [more]

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Submission to the Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal’s Review of Competition, Costs and Pricing in the Funeral Industry

Published 16 December 2020

CPSA's response to the Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal’s Review of Competition, Costs and Pricing in the Funeral Industry.

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Submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety – System Governance

Published 1 September 2020

This submission discusses the current system of governance in aged care in Australia and proposes a different model, aligning key interests with the agencies and groups best able to pursue them without being conflicted and with the welfare of aged people always at the centre. [more]

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Comments on the NSW Federal Financial Relations Review

Published 1 September 2020

The NSW Treasurer commissioned a wide-ranging review of NSW and federal financial relations. The review dealth with the issue of stamp duty, recommending it be replaced with a land tax and also suggested a number of ways land tax could be phased in. [more]

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A Housing Strategy for NSW – submission to NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Published 1 September 2020

This is CPSA's response to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Discussion Paper on a housing strategy for NSW, with a focus on housing issues and solutions for older people in NSW.

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Review of Rural and Regional Bus Fares 2021 – 2025 Submission to NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal

Published 1 September 2020

This submission responds to the affordability and equity of fares in rural and regional NSW, on-demand bus services and the potential broadening of concession eligibility.

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Would you rather be financially secure now or when you’re dead?

Published 29 May 2020

This booklet looks at your options to draw down on your capital while not running out of money before you die.

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Submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety: How the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission was won

Published 14 May 2020

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission was touted as the new broom that would sweep away the detritus littering aged care in Australia, but it has two CEOs of major aged care providers on its Board, plus a bevy of CEOs of organisations which have their own corporate barrow to push. [more]

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Submission: Retirement Income Review

Published 25 February 2020

The Treasurer announced a review into the retirement income system on 27 September 2019. This review was recommended by the Productivity Commission in its report Superannuation: Assessing Efficiency and Competitiveness and comes 27 years after the establishment of compulsory superannuation. [more]

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Submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety: Aged care program redesign

Published 25 February 2020

In this submission, CPSA responds to some of the questions posed in the Royal Commission’s Consultation Paper 1.

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Submission to IPART Max Opal Fares 2020 Draft Report

Published 31 January 2020

This submission provides recommendations that address the maximisation of community benefits and the affordability of fares, both of which have been identified as objectives of IPART’s draft recommendations.

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Turning nursing homes into tourist traps – Submission to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

Published 17 December 2019

Additional services are top-ups of the standard services provided in residential aged care services. User-pays applies, with fees and compound interest very commonly accrued against residents’ nursing home bonds. At 30 June 2018, the overall pool of money comprising refundable accommodation deposits stood at $27. [more]

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Submission on public consultation draft for the Financial Services (Improved Consumer Protection) (No. 1) Regulations 2019: funeral expenses facilities

Published 23 October 2019

CPSA welcomes the changes to funeral expenses policies. Stricter regulation as recommended by the Banking Royal Commission will assist in preventing consumers being ripped off when purchasing insurance policies to fund funerals. However, CPSA challenges the Government to go further and abolish these predatory insurance policies that thrive on vulnerable people and grieving families. [more]

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Submission on public consultation draft for the Financial Services (Improved Consumer Protection) (No. 1) Regulations 2019: funeral expenses facilities

Published 11 October 2019

CPSA supports of the Financial Services (Improved Consumer Protection) (No. 1) Regulations 2019: funeral expenses facilities, which removes the exemption for funeral insurance products from the definition of a financial product and ensures the consumer protection provisions of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 apply to these products. [more]

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