Delivering for seniors

Older Australians have made our nation strong and prosperous, and deserve to be supported in their later years – whether in work, retirement or in their caring roles.

Federal Labor’s Delivering for Seniors package will support and encourage older Australians in the workforce, tackle age discrimination, support grandparent carers and help meet the costs of living.

Our Delivering for Seniors package is a key part of our economic plan. It includes:

$6,500 improved Work Bonus for age pensioners who choose to do part time work.
$4,000 worth of training to support mature age workers in the workplace.
A dedicated Age Discrimination Commissioner.
New peer support for Grandparent Carers.
New rules for reverse mortgages to protect seniors.

The Federal Labor Party has always stood for fairness for older Australians.

The Delivering for Seniors package builds upon our first term achievements that include the biggest reforms to the age pension in more than a hundred years.

Our pension reforms have driven increases for pensioners now worth an extra $100 a fortnight for single pensioner and an extra $74 for couples combined. We also increased the Utilities Allowance by $400 to help meet the costs of electricity and other essentials.

Federal Labor has delivered increased support for self-funded retirees – including a new Seniors Supplement now worth $795 a year. And we delivered a national transport concessions scheme to give State Seniors Card holders concessions when they travel interstate.

Our historic superannuation reforms will boost superannuation for hard working Australians, giving more financial security in retirement.

Our Delivering for Seniors package will build on this record through $100 million in new commitments.

Policy Update: Budget 2011-12

In recognition of the important contribution senior Australians make to the community and the economy, the Gillard Government is delivering a range of new initiatives to encourage participation and involvement in community life.

The measures announced in the 2011-12 build on the Government’s historic pension reforms delivered in September 2009 that have provided substantial increases to the pension and long-lasting improvements to the indexation system.

These new measures include:

$97.7 million invested in delivering the New Work Bonus which will allow age pensioners to keep more of their pension if they choose to work. Eligible pensioners can earn up to $250 a fortnight without it being assessed as income under the pension income test.
Mature age workers with trade skills but no formal qualifications will have the opportunity to have their skills assessed and formally recognised to attain a qualification Certificate III level or above.

Around 35,000 mature job seekers who have been unemployed for 2 years or more are eligible for new employer wage subsidy of around $6000 for six months.
The Government will provide $4.0 million over four years to fund, for the very first time at the federal level, a stand-alone Age Discrimination Commissioner and support team in the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The Government will provide $1.1 million over four years for the continuation of the Ambassador for Ageing program.
Establishment of an Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Seniors Australians.
The Government will also provide $1.2 million over four years to establish a national network of peer support groups for grandparent carers.
The Government will invest $16 million over one year to extend the existing viability supplement, which compensates around 258 aged care providers for the additional costs associated with delivering services in rural and remote areas.