The Federal Budget from a South Australian perspective

As SA has already started to do, this was a budget that has begun to recognise that our ageing is new and it is different as a social and economic phenomena. As such it requires a comprehensive and integrated approach to meet the many new possibilities and the existing challenges to make it possible for all people to live well, to live safely and to continue to be part of their families and communities throughout their lives.

This Budget made a pretty good start. It offered 14,000 new high care packages across Australia which will begin to address a shortfall in the availability of care at home for large numbers of older South Australians. It also promises funding for aged care community and information hubs and allocates a first stage of funding to test the viability of creating more choice for customers considering residential care.

Beyond aged care there is a modest but significant recognition that we must do more to tackle the ageism that keeps older workers out of work, in part by helping them monitor their own skills and goals. In this there is an increase in the allocations set aside for the existing $10,000 restart subsidy and an increase in the threshold amount people can earn - either through a job or through a business - before losing pension income.

We are pleased to see the inclusion of new funding for mental health services for older Australians, including $82.5 million over 5 years for those in residential care and $20 million for a trial of new mental health services for people aged over 75 living in the community. Given the failures at Oaken and other facilities, greater investment in and focus on older persons' mental health services is desperately needed and we are pleased to see the Federal Government commit to spending in this area. There is also $22 million over 5 years for tackling elder abuse with a key measure including the development of a coordinated national plan, which should complement and enhance measures already in progress in South Australia following the ICAC inquiry into Oakden.

Some tweaks in superannuation recognise its importance as an income measure for increasingly long lives rather a wealth accumulation tool and the Pension Loans Scheme is now available to full pensioners.

Significantly, as we aspire to live longer and healthier lives, there are small allocations of funding to help sporting clubs reach out to older people and to pilot services to keep older people connected to their communities.

We regret that there is absolutely no provision to assist 4,600 older South Australians already in housing stress and the Newstart Allowance - which is relied on by many older people unable to get a job and too young for a pension - remains inadequate for dignified living.

From an SA perspective this is overall a Budget of modest but constructive outlays to start a broad and complete view of the needs and opportunities our ageing brings. It follows the SA lead about recasting our ageing as being as much about possibilities as it is about challenges.

For more detailed information about the ins and outs of the Federal Budget, you can read COTA Australia's media release.