Page 1860 - Week 09 - Thursday, 19 October 1989
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
For many of the aged, transport is their link to the outside world. It is vital that adequate, appropriate and affordable transport be provided for the elderly. It has been recognised that the social needs of the elderly are as important as their medical needs; therefore, transport must be available not only for shopping, medical and professional visits, but also to allow the elderly to get out and socialise. Many of the services and schemes such as day care services for the elderly would not survive without adequate transport. Many of the aged miss out because it is too difficult for them to get to these functions and services.
That brings me to the issue of concessions for transport. I am aware that the Government is already looking into this issue and hopefully the conclusion of its report will be soon but in the meantime, as Mrs Nolan mentioned, the taxi scheme, which provides concession fares for the elderly and people with disabilities, has a waiting list of over 200 people. I feel that that is appalling. At one stage last year it nearly ran out of funds and the services were cut considerably.
Also the necessity for bus and rail concessions should be reviewed. The committee found that the ACT residents fare badly compared with their counterparts in New South Wales. I believe that, before people are able to use concessional travel over the border in New South Wales, the ACT Government is required to pay a sum of money to the New South Wales Government and I think that this situation should be rectified as soon as possible.
I said previously that I was aware that the Government is reviewing all concessions in the ACT and I know it is a mammoth task, but the issues of the taxi scheme and bus and rail concessions need to be reviewed urgently and the findings acted on now rather than waiting for the final report. There are many aged people who are relying on these changes so that they can lead a fuller life. I recall one instance of a couple saying to me that they had not seen their children or grandchildren for quite a few years because they could not afford to travel interstate.
Another issue I would like to speak on and acknowledge is that of voluntary help. There are many volunteers out there. Without their help, many of these services would not be provided and the Government could not afford to finance them. There is also a growing concern regarding the depletion of the number of volunteers. As the majority of volunteers are women and in our society today more women are working, the number of volunteers is decreasing.
I would just like to say that it has been a pleasure to be on this committee and I certainly have learnt a lot about the ageing and their needs.
MR STEVENSON (11.18): Mr Speaker, the inquiry was called "Needs of the Ageing" and perhaps that is a slight
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .