Older Australians get a voice in government

The new Assistant Minister for Ageing, Kate Thwaites, has the job in front of her to represent the interests of Australia’s 4.2 million people aged 65 and over. That number swells to 9.5 million people aged 50-plus.

All of us are ageing, which makes Ms Thwaites’s job even more confronting.

The creation of an Assistant Minister for Ageing portfolio comes after lobbying by National Seniors Australia and Independent Federal Member for Mayo Ms Rebekha Sharkie, and comes well into the government’s current term, which has been notable for not having a dedicated minister for older Australians.

Previously to Ms Thwaite’s appointment to a dedicated ageing portfolio, the government’s ministerial emphasis was on aged care – through cabinet Health and Aged Care Minister, Mark Bowen, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, and Aged Care Minister, Anika Wells. Those ministers retain their portfolios.

National Seniors welcomes the creation of the dedicated Ageing ministerial position, even if it is at a junior level and outside cabinet decision-making, and we welcome Ms Thwaite’s appointment.

NSA chief executive officer Chris Grice says the appointment is recognition that older Australians need to be better represented in Federal Government.

He said the issues facing older Australians are many and touch on multiple ministries and portfolios, far beyond aged care.

“It’s a timely appointment. According to the 2023 Intergenerational Report, the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double, and the number aged 85 and over will more than triple over the next 40 years. We need to plan for this impact and opportunity now,” Mr Grice said.

Aged care is just one of the many issues facing older Australians. Many also experience ageism, elder abuse, poverty, homelessness, cost-of-living pressures, cyber safety threats, and financial and digital literacy exclusion.

“Representation is about ensuring the social, physical, and economic contributions of all older Australians are understood and reflected in good public policy,” Mr Grice said.

“Australians support the economy and society in many ways as they get older, they also have specific needs. A successful Assistant Minister for Ageing will understand this diversity and be able to communicate this to their colleagues and to the wider public, ensuring better outcomes.”

Mr Grice said this was an opportunity to “give millions of older Australians a stronger say within government”, adding that the portfolio was “a step in the right direction, and very welcome”.

“National Seniors Australia looks forward to working with the assistant minister to ensure this growing cohort has both the support and recognition it needs and deserves,” he said.

Having a dedicated voice in government through a stand-alone portfolio and minister has been a long-standing advocacy commitment of National Seniors Australia.

We believe it best serves the needs and value of older Australians, which are far broader than just aged care.

“Importantly, it’s an opportunity to change the narrative around older Australians – to view them as the builders they have the potential to be, rather than the burden they are too often portrayed,” Mr Grice said.