Page 692 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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housing, education, leisure and health programs and the elimination of age discrimination barriers. Advances in health and medicine have increased longevity, and the number of people over 60 years of age is increasing throughout Australia. On average, men can expect to live 18 years after retirement at age 60, and women can expect to live for 23 years after 60.
There is an added boost to Canberra's ageing population due to more people staying on in the ACT after retirement than was the case in the past and some cross-migration from outside the ACT. The Alliance Government's "Blueprint for the Ageing" promotes the concept of the third stage of life for the 60-plus population, during which health, independence, dignity and a feeling of worth are maintained.
The Social Policy Committee tabled its report in October 1989, and I commend it to members. I again commend Mr Wood for its excellence. It is the cornerstone of the Alliance Government's "Blueprint for the Ageing". The terms of reference for the Social Policy Committee were to examine the needs of Canberra's ageing population, concentrating in particular on the frail and disabled who are unable to live independently, dementia patients, those of ethnic origins and those who require respite facilities.
Of the 60 recommendations made by the Social Policy Committee, the Government has accepted 55. If we have not accepted a recommendation it is not because we disagree with the idea; rather, the Government accepts the principle of the recommendation but is not able to agree fully with the proposed implementation. These differences have arisen either because of the tight budgetary situation or because administrative arrangements have improved under the Alliance Government.
More specifically, the four points on which our "Blueprint for the Ageing" differs from the Social Policy Committee's recommendations are as follows. In connection with a hospice facility - recommendation No. 2 - we believe it is more appropriate to consider construction of such a facility in the context of the development of the hospital services rather than as a stand-alone proposal.
The second point is in connection with a continence clinic, to which recommendation 3 refers. The blueprint acknowledges the need for continence services but not necessarily a continence clinic as recommended by the committee. However, the Government will be seeking permanent accommodation for the continence promotion group.
The third area is that of a taxi rebate scheme for people with disabilities, to which the committee's recommendations 39 and 40 refer. The Government agrees that the scheme needs to be reviewed but cannot categorically exclude a change to the present eligibility criteria. The committee recommended no change in the present criteria.
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