Page 474 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 13 March 2007

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their own capabilities; this makes seniors some of the safest drivers on ACT roads. Older drivers are choosing driving practices in accordance with their abilities, such as driving to avoid peak hour traffic and avoiding driving at night. Older drivers also travel at a speed that is consistent with their own abilities and with the road conditions. I imagine that the road toll across Australia would be significantly lower if only all drivers followed this example.

Seniors are generous in sharing their time and expertise. Examples that spring to mind are the members of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing and, in health, my aged care advisory council. The members of these two groups, who are all volunteers, represent a wealth of experience, energy and commitment. They have set themselves challenging work plans and get on with the job. I meet with both groups regularly, and I am always impressed by their commitment and the work that they deliver.

Just before I finish, I would like to acknowledge the role that grandparents play here in the ACT. Grandparents make a significant contribution to our social capital. There are increasing numbers of grandparent carers. Grandparents are the guardians in around one per cent of all families with children—about 22,500 families, representing a total of over 31,000 children. In two-thirds of these families, the natural parents are living elsewhere. Grandparents take on the role out of love and concern for the two generations involved—often at great personal cost—and provide family continuity and a stable and secure environment for the children. In some cases, they prevent children having to go into the care of the territory or other state-funded care.

In addition to their role as grandparents, seniors undertake caring roles for their partners—and for their children if they become ill or disabled. As well, seniors continue to provide financial and other support for their families and to share the skills, experience and wisdom they have developed throughout their lives. Seniors are an essential part of the fabric of our society. They have worked hard to create the beautiful and prosperous city we all enjoy today.

MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra—Leader of the Opposition) (4.09): It is appropriate that we in this place celebrate our older people through this matter of public importance brought by Ms Porter today—not only because it is Seniors Week but because this week we celebrate Canberra’s 94th birthday.

In 1999, in the International Year of Older Persons, the then Minister for Urban Services, Mr Smyth, remarked in the forward to the demographic profile of older persons in the ACT:

Most older people in Canberra are independent, active, healthy, want to continue to learn and grow, and are willing to be involved in a diverse range of social, educational, cultural, and community activities.

Today it is worth reminding ourselves in Seniors Week that we in Canberra are fortunate to have such an abundance of people who make such a valuable contribution to our community. Indeed, it is estimated that as at June 2007 the population of persons aged 50 years or more will be 93,800. What a huge wealth of talent, knowledge, experience and wisdom we have there. The 1999 report showed that older


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