THE VOICE April 2012

1 April2012 THEVOICEOFPENSIONERSANDSUPERANNUANTSOFNSW

THE

VOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSWPrint Post Approved PP235387100064 ISSN 10353615 April 2012

IN A response to a media report of 22 February 2012 in The Global Mail (theglobalmail.org) , Council on the Ageing Australia (COTA) CEO Ian Yates has described CPSA’s aged care campaign as “blinkered, frequently misrepresentational [sic], and isolated”. Them’s fightin’ words, Mr Yates. Campaigns need to have

a clear focus and purpose. CPSA’s campaign on aged care certainly has that. Right now, the CPSA campaign focuses on educating people that the Government is seriously contemplating forcing them to use the equity of the family home to pay for aged care, whether that is home care, community care, respite care, home maintenance, home

modification or nursing home care. All types of care, regardless of who delivers it. While the Minister for Ageing has been going around consulting with the public, reports received by CPSA suggest he has been trying to gloss over the fact that better access to care is going to cost you your house. COTA, which has been

the organiser of these ‘consultations’, will publish a report that is likely to show that people don’t mind selling or reverse mortgaging the family home to pay for aged care. Apart from Mr Yates’ angry and intemperate language in describing CPSA’s stance on aged care, his description is simply not factual.

CPSA’s“Blinkered,FrequentlyMisrepresentationaland

Isolated”AgedCareCampaign

Continued page 7


CPSAExecutive(as at 2.11.2011)

Grace Selway OAM CPSA President

Bob JayCPSA Secretary

Betty ChamberlainCPSA Treasurer

Bill HollandSenior Vice PresidentAssistant Treasurer

George RayVice President

Sue LatimerAssistant Secretary

Shirley BainsMargaret Craven-ScottJim GraindaMarie Mihell Colin VernonBarbara Wright

THEVOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSW

Phone: 1800 451 488Fax: (02) 9281 9716Email: [email protected]: Amelia Christie, Antoine Mangion & Paul VersteegePrinter: MPD, Unit E1, 46-62 Maddox Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

All content prepared by the editorial and production team with reference to stories on AAP newswire, unless indicated.

THE VOICECPSA, Level 9, 28 Foveaux StSurry Hills NSW 2010

Disclaimer

No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in advertisements or text supplied by other organisations or individuals and/or typographical errors.

CPSA does not support or promote the products or views in paid advertising.

LettersDon’t flog my homeDEAR Prime Minister GillardI was dismayed to learn of the recommendation of the Productivity Commission to Government that will lead to people like my husband and I losing control of the one real asset that represents our lifetime’s work, our family home. I feel quite unable to accept that the Government could see even the slightest hint of justice in forcing the reverse mortgaging of the family home to pay for being so unfortunate as to need care whether in a nursing home or home care while still living in the family residence. This is especially distressing when there is the prospect of a couple being separated by one needing nursing home care while the other expects a further 15 to 20 years more of life in the family home. The equity of the home slowly dwindles

away, paying for nursing home care for the spouse. In some cases it could be a daughter or son who has been the carer of a parent and in doing so could have lived in the family home for many, many years. This would be regarded by the community, not just the elderly, as a very low, despicable act by the Government. I believe that the electorate would feel compelled to look after those who have paid their share of the upkeep of our country and looked after our fellow Australians over the years. They would like, in their declining years, to be able to keep their family home, their principal place of residence for which they have worked so terribly hard. The people you are targeting are just ordinary working Australians who have paid their taxes and who went without a lot of life’s little luxuries and in fact often had to struggle in

order to be able to buy, and pay the mortgage on their family home and they are people who have looked to the Australian Labor Party to represent them. I would ask you to not inflict this dreadful imposition on your fellow Australians.

Joan KingKellyville, NSW

Refusal to install lifts a poor decision AFTER a campaign extended over a decade or more and dealing with many politicians seeking an easy and safe access to the rail platform shamelessly at Unanderra, my hopes were dashed this week to open my morning paper and see the headlines ‘No lifts for this station’, something promised in 2009 by then Transport Minister David Campbell. The situation is this: there are 36 steps from the footpath to the top landing and 36 steps down to the

Donations,Bequests,MembershipandTHEVOICEsubscriptions

MembershipisopentoallwhosupporttheaimsandobjectivesofCPSA

I’d like to renew my Membership or join CPSA as a Member and enclose my individual Membership fee of $12 (Includes a free annual subscription to THE VOICE, valued at $25.00). I agree to be bound by the CPSA Constitution and uphold the Objectives and Policies of CPSA. I support the CPSA Objectives. I have not previously been expelled from CPSA or, if I have been expelled, I have attached a copy of my CPSA Executive exemption. Please send me information about my nearest Branch. I do not wish to join CPSA but would like to subscribe to THE VOICE (1 year—$25.00 incl. GST). I belong to an organisation and would like information about how we can become a Branch or an Affiliate of CPSA. (NB: Branches are covered by CPSA’s $10 million Public Liability Insurance). I wish to make a donation of $______ (All donations above $2 are tax deductible). Please send me information about THE VOICE gift subscriptions. I wish to make a bequest to CPSA in my Will. Please send me information.Name:_____________________________________________________________________________Address:__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________State:_____________Postcode:__________Phone: ______________________________Email:_________________________________________Payment details (for credit card): Visa Mastercard Name on card:__________________________Card Number:___________________Expiry:_________Amount:______________________ Signature:_____________________________________________

Please send to: CPSA, Level 9, 28 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Letters are personal views only and do not necessarily reflect CPSA policy. Ed.

April2012 www.cpsa.org.au 1800451488 3

platform – something which many seniors with medical conditions cannot face. We also have had people with disability talk to us about their plight. Then there are mothers with young babes in strollers who struggle desperately to get to a train. The alternative is to drive (for those who are able) to Dapto or Wollongong to get a train. If you don’t drive, a taxi fare is an expensive alternative. Yes sir, we in the Illawarra are still alive and full of fight.

Eric StevensonSecretary

South Coast Area CouncilRead more on this issue on page 8. Ed.

Single gender wards seem a pipe dreamTHE PREVIOUS NSW Government organised a review of the health system by Peter Garling SC. The report was handed down in 2009. His main recommendation was that the practice of shared wards, i.e. men and women co-sharing hospital rooms, be ceased. In the same year the Daily Telegraph published an article by Judith and Michael Kennedy. They had a paper published in the Medical Journal of Australia, where they said shared wards were an appalling practice. Three years on and there is no change. I have received anecdotal reports from acquaintances of the distress

this situation causes. I’m a retired registered nurse and in my day we had separate female and male wards. Of course, in areas such as intensive care, both men and women are present. Women who have religious concerns about sharing a room with men don’t have to suffer these indignities. What about we remaining women of many generations being extended a similar courtesy and being able to access gender specific wards. I urge all readers to contact the Hotline on 1800 700 830 if they or their dear ones are denied a gender specific ward.

Barbara WrightBusby, NSW

CPSA has heard of few instances where hospitals try to accommodate single gender wards and encourages people to call the above Hotline. Ed.

Energy costs are more than financialTHE COST of skyrocketing energy now has got to the stage that low-income families and pensioners cannot afford to use their air conditioners or other essential appliances, creating serious health problems from the heat. I believe there is a case here for all institutions to lobby Governments to address this issue if they claim to be there for all their voters. I’m 90 years old and disabled and have never had

this experience in my life.Eric Di Losa

Port Macquarie, NSW

Fire-proofing necessary MY ASTONISHMENT grew by the minute as I read about your campaign to install sprinkler systems in Aged Care Facilities and their ability to extinguish a fire a full twenty (20!) minutes into the burn (a typo surely?). I was amazed by the emergence of ‘sprinklemania’. Sprinklers my foot! The real solution is to require that everything in and about an aged care dwelling be flame proof, beginning with the furniture (all of it), the soft furnishings (such as curtains, upholstery, etc), the carpets (or better still: none) all surfaces, appliances, fittings, apparel... everything! We have the technology to ensure that not a thing will reach combustion temperature through component failure or proximity to accepted sources of heat. Root out combustibles and you will have no fire. Sprinkler systems are suitable only for non-dwellings, to wit, commercial facilities, not for rooms full of aged people who may escape the surging fire, only to succumb to pneumonia straight thereafter. God forbid !

Rod SpearerNewtown, NSW

The advice from fire services around the world is unequivocal: nursing homes

need to be sprinklered. In case of fire, only sprinkler heads near the fire are activated, enabling evacuation to other parts of the building, not to the outside. Ed.

Putting the cart before the horse before the trainTHE NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure declares they will prepare a recommendation to Cabinet regarding Hunter transport after which the people affected will be consulted. Er, isn’t this getting the cart before the horse? From where is the Government’s knowledge originating? It seems that the new NSW Liberal Government is at risk of falling into the same trap that caused the demise of the ALP Government. The ALP weren’t listening to the people and they paid the price. This report contradicts the Premier’s election promise that the people of the Hunter will decide the future of their transport. It now appears that Newcastle property developers are to be consulted instead. One thing is consistent, governments in opposition are very interested to meet with the community and support their ambitions with enormous enthusiasm. Once they’re elected they invariably develop a post-election deafness until the next elections.

George ParisRathmines, NSW

Letters

By post: By email:THE VOICE, CPSA [email protected] 9, 28 Foveaux StSurry Hills NSW 2010

You must include your name and suburb/town for the letter to be published, though these may be omitted in publication if the letter contains personal information. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

SendalettertoTHEVOICECPSA - who we are

CPSA was founded in 1931 in response to pension cuts.

CPSA is a non-profit, non-party-political membership association which serves pensioners of all ages, superannuants and low-income retirees. The aim of CPSA is to improve the standard of living and well-being of its Members and constituents.


Members’page

Crosswordby Hilda Thorburn

THE e-VOICE is available free on the internet. Visit our website, www.cpsa.org.au, and sign up at

THE VOICE - Subscribe

Donations

CPSA is grateful for all donations.

Due to lack of space, the following only includes donations above $35 received since the last edition of THE VOICE:

Anonymous $38.00Anonymous $50.00Blanch, M. 40.00Culburra/Orient Point CPSA 100.00Davis, S. 40.00Gillespie, M. 38.00Guffond, M. 38.00Gumb, O. 50.00Guthrie, P. 38.00Haeata, J. 50.00Lenton, P. 100.00Marshall, D. 100.00Mooney, G. 50.00Morrison, D. 38.00MUA Vets Southern Branch 100.00Newton, N. 40.00Rawson, K. 38.00St George (Kogarah) Greek Senior CitizensGroup 39.60Warn, L. 38.00Ylisirnio, P. 38.00

Across 1. Vehicles pulled by reindeer (5’1,7) 8. Examined closely 9. Greek island10. Rancour, taste11. Large town12. Fuel14. Guided ..., weapons17. American sport20. Experts23. Naughty child24. Parade, march25. Turkish mountain26. Wet-weather outfit27. Desired airflow on a hot day (7,6)

Answers on back page

Down

1. Daybreak 2. Be there in time (2,5 than) 3. Our country 4. Our two largest cities (6,9) 5. Merits, gets wages 6. Italian dumplings 7. Ghost, spirit13. It is (‘3) (poetical)15. Wine waiter16. Side sheltered from the wind18. Pilots, flight staff19. Captivate21. Blister containing fluid22. Newborn24. Paved outdoor area

Garden of RemembranceIt is with great sadness that the Older Women’s Network announces that CPSA Life Member Noreen Hewett died on 26 February at IBIS Big Sister aged care facility in Miranda, following a stroke.

Grenfell Branch was saddened by the death of Shirley Johansson aged 83, in care at Wellington. Until a few months ago, Shirley lived at Greenethorpe and attended meetings regularly at Grenfell for many years.

It is with deep regret that Warilla Branch has lost their hard-working, loyal Branch Treasurer Fred Pepper after a long courageous fight. He will be sadly missed by all.

Guildford Branch is saddened to note the passing of Branch Life Member Ron Wheeler, just after his 102nd birthday. He was a Member for over 40 years, and Assistant Secretary for many. He helped in the sewing room and was a well-liked, well-loved Member.

~ Rest in Peace ~CPSA Branch welcoming Members

The Foveaux Street Branch meets to discuss CPSA policy and campaigns at 10.15am on the second Friday of the month at CPSA Head Office. If you are interested in participating, please call CPSA on 1800 451 488.

Head Office News

Head Office News is sent to all Branch Secretaries, Presidents and Treasurers with the instruction to read it aloud to the Branch meeting. Every Branch Member is also entitled to receive a copy. If you would like a copy, please call Head Office on 1800 451 488.

Condition of CPSA Membership

According to the NSW Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (Schedule 1, clause 11(1)(a) and Appendix 1 based on Clause 3(1)), it is a condition of your ongoing CPSA membership that you agree to comply with CPSA’s Constitution including Aims & Objectives.

If you have any questions or would like a copy of the Constitution, please call Head Office on 1800 451 488. The Constitution is also available at www.cpsa.org.au.

Reminder

CPSA has replaced the badge for ‘President’, ‘Secretary’ and ‘Treasurer’ with ‘Branch President’, ‘Branch Secretary’ and ‘Branch Treasurer’ badges. Your existing badge will be replaced free of charge by posting the badge to Head Office and requesting a replacement.


CPSACampaigns

The NSW Government recognises that people on lower incomes are hardest hit by electricity price rises, as they have little or no buffer in their household budget. For this reason the NSW Government implemented the Home Power Savings Program which aims to help 220,000 lower income households across New South Wales more effectively manage their energy usage and rising power costs.

More than 80,000 households across NSW have already joined the Home Power Savings Program and collectively are on their way to saving more than $21 million off their household bills. Each eligible household can potentially save up to $265 a year each on their bills through the Program.

As part of the program, households receive a FREE one hour in-home energy assessment by an energy expert; a FREE kit of energy efficient products (valued at around $200) installed by the energy expert; and a FREE Power Savings Action Plan.

Those eligible for the program include residents of NSW who hold a Centrelink Pensioner Concession or Low Income Health Care Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pension or Repatriation Health Cardholders, are a social housing tenant or are recognised as an energy utility hardship customer.

All eligible residents are invited to book an appointment with an energy expert to get a free in-home power assessment, power savings kit worth around $200, and a tailored Power Savings Actions Plan.

To book a free assessment call 1300 662 416, or visit www.savepower.nsw.gov.au/freehelp for more information.

Around the BranchesHealthCPSA congratulates Members of New Millennium Seniors (Mt Druitt) for their efforts in raising money for palliative care. Last year alone, they held four fetes and over the last 10 years they have raised nearly $28,000. The money has gone towards purchasing equipment for Mt Druitt Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit including wheelchairs, beds, commode chairs, water tanks for the garden unit and four heart and blood machines. Being a small group of 15 Members this is a great effort.

Aged CareA number of Branches have been campaigning for improvements to aged care services in their area. Penrith CPSA took a petition to their local Federal Member, David Bradbury, calling for the exclusion of the family home in asset testing for aged care.

Engadine CPSA met with their local Federal Member, Craig Kelly MP, as

did Manning Valley CPSA, meeting with local Federal Member and Independent MP, Rob Oakeshott. Both Branches also raised their concerns about the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission, particularly selling or reverse mortgaging the family home to pay for aged care. Griffith CPSA is also working hard to improve services in their area. With a shortage of local beds people have to go to Nerrandera, Hay and Hillston to get into aged care. THE VOICE will report on more Branches’ aged care campaign activities in the next edition.

TransportGriffith CPSA has held several talks with RTA representatives and Griffith City Council regarding a number of dangerous traffic situations. Meanwhile, Manning Valley CPSA met with their State Member, calling for improvements to rail

services. The community is seeking a two-car feeder service to run between Taree and Coffs Harbour as well as the reopening of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line with the possibility of expanding it to meet Queensland Rail at the border. Orana Branch have been collecting signatures for a petition to reverse the CountryLink services between Bathurst and Sydney. If you would like to sign the petition or collect signatures, please call CPSA Head Office on 1800 451 488 for a petition form. Transport Infoline updateCPSA would like to thank readers of THE VOICE who contacted us with their experiences using the NSW Transport Infoline - 131 500. Overall experience with the telephone and internet services was excellent. People noted ease of use, staff helpfulness and overall reliability as the key highlights. One important suggestion

for improving 131 500 was that a little more accuracy from the computer-based service was needed for some of the route suggestions when unable to walk long distances. “ It highlights the fact that, despite modern inventions, the human interaction is still superior,” the respondent wrote. Suggestions were also made to improve awareness of services, including greater advertising of the bus services in the local community and providing bus timetable booklets inside buses. CPSA will take all suggestions received on board (excuse the pun) and present them to the Transport Policy Advisory Group so that improvements can be achieved. In the meantime, we encourage people who are unaware of what public transport services are available in their area to give the Transport Infoline a call on 131 500 or visit wwww.131500.com.au


CPSAMemberBenefit


From page 1CPSA’s campaign is not “blinkered”. It merely puts forward a different view than that held by Mr Yates and his National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) mates. CPSA’s campaign is not “misrepresentational” (a word made up by Mr Yates, but we know what he means). Mr Yates has not presented any evidence of misrepresentation on CPSA’s part. Simply, CPSA does not have the same view as Mr Yates and Mr Yates doesn’t like it. CPSA’s campaign is neither “isolated” and Mr Yates’ claim is demonstrably false. He conveniently ignores that Australia’s largest seniors group National Seniors, with an actual membership of 250,000 as opposed to COTA’s actual membership of less than 50,000, is not part of NACA and has criticised the Productivity Commission’s aged care

reform proposals along similar lines to CPSA. Not that these membership numbers should mean much in policy debates. In a democratic society, policy debate should take into account what the people affected actually think. National Seniors did the logical thing and asked its members what they thought about aged care reform. The full report Aged Care Reform Survey 2011 can be found on www.nationalseniors.com.au The Report found that awareness of the Productivity Commission’s report Caring for Older Australians was very limited. Fifty-four per cent of respondents had not heard about the report, and of those who had heard about it, almost two-thirds knew very little. In other words, major aged care reform proposals have not been communicated very well by the Government through COTA, which

organised Minister Butler’s public consultations. O v e r w h e l m i n g l y , respondents agreed that older Australians should contribute to their care costs, in line with their financial capacity, but that there should be a lifetime limit on care costs. Seventy per cent of respondents rejected the inclusion of the family home in a comprehensive aged care means test. This amounts to a rejection of key Productivity Commission proposals for a Government-backed reverse mortgage scheme and a special pensioner savings account. So perhaps it’s time Mr Yates retracted his outburst, especially in view of the ineffective public consultations COTA organised. To put the record straight, CPSA supports a social insurance approach to the funding of aged, disability, general health and dental

care, but recognises that this approach should have been taken decades ago. For aged care, we have missed the boat. For aged care, social insurance will again become an option once the spike in people needing it is over, some forty years away. Meanwhile, CPSA wants a progressive approach to levying co-contributions for care costs. Progressive means that people with more assets should pay more than people with fewer assets. The home, being a vital factor in people’s sense of security, should be excluded from the means test for care cost co-contributions. Few pensioners live in million dollar homes. If they did, they wouldn’t be pensioners. How is anyone going to have a sense of wellbeing and security if the modest house, which has taken a lifetime to pay off, is being eaten away through a reverse mortgage? The home ownership rate among those aged 65 and over is so high (84 per cent) because people see home ownership as the cornerstone of their lives. It’s not something to be trifled with. That doesn’t mean people would not be prepared to exchange their home for another. Lots of people do so already. Retirement villages and downsizing are booming. But what these exchanges all have in common is that people retain outright home ownership, retain security of tenure and retain control over their lives. This readiness to exchange one owned home for another is also the key to funding residential aged care accommodation. Rather than making people gradually hand over their

CPSACampaigns


home equity to aged care providers when they go into a nursing home, people should be able to buy a nursing home place which they or their heirs can later sell, just like a unit in a retirement village can be sold. However, people simply don’t like going into nursing homes. Indeed, nursing homes are not the way of the future. The future for residential aged care lies in clustered residential development, using universal design principles that enable independent living and the effective and efficient delivery of community aged care. It would enable couples to stay together. The common situation, where one member of a couple goes into a nursing home, would become an exceptional situation. The Productivity Commission has considered none of this and that is the main reason their report should be scrapped. The Commission’s proposals would entrench the current way of doing things: people stay in their home for as long as they can, but where these homes cannot be sufficiently modified (for example, walk-up apartments), people have no choice but to go into a nursing home. THE VOICE knows of cases where people who only had mobility problems ended up bedridden in a nursing home because no dwelling accessible by powerchair was available. It is a certain recipe for depression and premature death. Surely, speaking out for a better deal than that proposed by the Productivity Commission is not blinkered,

does not misrepresent and is not the wish of a small isolated group of nutcases. It’s what everyone would want, including Mr Yates.

CPSA invites readers to sign a petition against the Productivity Commission’s aged care funding proposals at http://chn.ge/GzwXbw.

Aged Care Reforms: should I sell my home to my children to avoid reverse mortgaging it?

THE VOICE readers and CPSA Members are concerned about the Productivity Commission’s reverse mortgage proposals. And they should be. But this has led to some Members questioning whether they should transfer their home to their children now in order to avoid it. Let’s look at what can happen if you do just that. At present, compulsory reverse mortgages are a recommendation and so the best course of action is to continue campaigning against it with your local Federal Member of Parliament so that it does not become Government policy. CPSA has had a number of calls about whether pensioners would be better off if they transferred their homes to their children at a discounted price now, in order to avoid reverse mortgaging their home for $60,000 if they require aged care. The answer for most people is, largely, no. Centrelink only allows pensioners to gift $10,000 in cash or assets in a year, up to $30,000 over a five-year period. If a home is sold at a discounted price, the difference between that price and its market value will be

considered the gift. So you’ll be likely to lose your pension. Any amount gifted will continue to be considered an asset for another five years and will also have deeming rates applied to it. Deeming assumes your financial investments are earning a certain rate of income, no matter what income they are actually earning. Currently, the deeming rates are 3% p.a. for the first $43,200 (singles) or $72,000 (couples) and 4.5% p.a. for any amount above these figures. Other issues to consider are that there may be circumstances in the future which may not seem likely now. And it is not just about trusting your children. While not intentional, bad investments can lead to houses being claimed. There are myriad ways in which financial trouble could develop, and you would no longer have control over your home. Home ownership is a key safety measure against housing insecurity. Older people, and older women in particular, are now the fastest growing group of homeless people in Australia, so it is important that people hang onto their housing security. So it’s probably best to hold onto your home – both for financial reasons and for peace of mind.

Pitiful Pension and Newstart Increases Do Nothing to Alleviate “Anomaly” Price Hikes

On 20 March Carer, Disability Support and Age Pensions were increased by a mere $6.70 a fortnight for singles and $10 for couples

(combined). And this is including a rise in the Pension Supplement! And people on Newstart have only received a measly $2.90 a fortnight increase for singles and $2.60 each for couple members. While any increase is certainly welcome, this is definitely not enough. CPSA is wondering when the Government will wake up and realise that most pensioners and allowance recipients still struggle to pay ordinary household bills and that an increase of less than $3.40 a week does nothing to alleviate this. The much sought after $65 increase to fortnightly payments for single Pensioners in 2009 was quickly eaten up by the rising prices of essential goods and services. The price increases of necessities (such as electricity) since this time have been at far higher levels than the average Consumer Price Index (CPI), leading to a constant struggle to stay on top of bills. While the bi-annual increases take into account CPI increases, they do not adequately factor into what has been termed ‘anomaly’ rises in essential services, leading to Pension and Newstart payments being barely enough, and often simply not enough, to cover living and accommodation expenses. This often results in bad health, housing stress and social exclusion. Since the 2009 single Pension increase we have seen a 19 per cent increase in real terms in electricity, while general CPI has remained at around 3 per cent. Pensioners and allowance recepients in the private rental market are paying, on

CPSACampaigns


average, well over 30 per cent of their income on rent, more than any other group of renters. THE VOICE is unsure how such constant rises can be labelled “anomalies”. CPSA is calling on the Australian Government to recognise this and give Pensioners and Newstart recipients a fair go. CPSA calls for reform of income support in such a way that people forced to rely on it as their main or only source of income are able to pay for adequate food, shelter, utilities and healthcare. Real increases to Centrelink payments would be a good start.

(In)accessible Transport

AFTER our article noting NSW Transport’s willingness to listen through the formation of an Accessible Transport Advisory Committee in the February edition of THE VOICE, CPSA feels the need to retract some of its previous statements about the progress made. This was brought to light by CPSA Council, which noted

Unanderra train station on the South Coast as an example of where accessibility plans have been scrapped. In June 2009 this station was allocated $11.4 million for a revamp. A small portion of this money was spent on upgrading waiting areas but the second stage of the renovation – the installation of lifts – was suspended. The Illawarra Mercury reported that the O’Farrell Government has since decided to forgo construction of the lifts all together. How a commitment to accessible transport can be made and then retracted is still puzzling CPSA and the users of this station. Commuters are continuing to lobby for the installation of lifts and CPSA has joined the fight. Lack of access to stations such as this have a significant, detrimental impact on people with disabilities, the elderly and parents with strollers. And it’s not only occurring at outer-city stations. CityRail’s website states that, due to costs, priority for Easy Access station renovations

are based on patronage, access to educational and medical centres and whether or not the station is a rail interchange. Yet Redfern station, with 12 platforms, is second only to Sydney’s Central station as the largest potential for interchange. All lines, except the airport line, run through it. It is also the nearest station to the University of Sydney. Not one platform has lift access. In 2006 the then Transport Minister announced plans for a $2 million inquiry for upgrading the station but six years on, no work has begun. Another alarming issue is lifts being out of order at destination points. A passenger requiring lift access can get onto a train only to find that the lift they require on arrival is not in operation. CityRail states that it understands the benefits lifts provide and that if passengers need to use lifts at their destination point, they should ask staff members to phone the station before travel. Are regular commuters

supposed to call ahead every time to check if a lift is out of order? Surely a more fair and efficient system would alert regular train users of lift break downs and maintenance. This is exactly what CPSA is campaigning for.

Public Dentistry = Inadequate dentistry for poor people

A DENTAL report released last month backs an urgent need for a step up of CPSA’s campaign for dental care to be included within Medicare. Pensioners and others from lower socioeconomic groups are the most disadvantaged by the underfunding of public dental services. They are likely to have fewer teeth, more decay and suffer greater social impacts on their quality of life as a result of poor oral health. The National Advisory Council on Dental Health, which commissioned the report, points out that the number of missing teeth increases with age, as does gum disease and dental decay. Those over 65 are bearing the brunt of dental problems. They are also the age group most likely to be on lower, fixed incomes and less able to pay the exorbitant fees of private dentists. In particular, those in residential care and people with disability can have special oral health needs and the report highlights that this needs specific attention. CPSA agrees that it is crucial that dental health care be seen as an integral part of general health care. Dental care has been regarded as secondary for too long. Australia has one of the lowest standards of oral health among OECD countries.

CPSACampaigns


While CPSA has welcomed the recommendations put forward in the dental report, we would like to see a clearer outline on how the report’s long term goal of universal access will be achieved, particularly in light of the measly $165 million the Government has pledged. The current public dental system is so minimal that it equates to inadequate dentistry for poor people and this needs to change. Australian Government expenditure on dental services is currently only 16% of all expenditure, while State and Local Governments foot the bill for 8%. Individuals fork out 62% of the costs and health insurance funds pay for 14%. There are also large differences between expenditure among states. While the Tasmanian Government spends $46.33 per person on dental care, New South Wales spends the lowest in the country on a per person basis at $21.53. In addition to this inequity, the report shows that overlaps and duplications between State and Federal services are causing inefficiencies. The cost of poor oral health to the Australian economy is between $1.3 billion and $2 billion annually making it clear that the Australian Government cannot afford to continue under funding dental care. The two tiered system in which pensioners and low income Australians go without or receive inferior dental treatment needs to go. Please join the campaign by signing our petition ‘Save Australia’s Teeth: Make Universal Dental Care a Reality’ online at http://bit.ly/xUqvDl and by posting the enclosed postcard to the

Minister for Health.

Struggling with ever-increasing electricity bills: Hardship Charters to the Rescue?

THE VOICE does not need to point out to its readers that energy prices are on the rise. Everyone has felt it and is not happy about it. But if you’re struggling to pay your bills there are a few things that the energy companies don’t want you to know. Did you know that if you ring your energy retailer about an inability to pay your bill on time, they are supposed to inform you about their hardship charter? Didn’t think so. There is a real lack of transparency in NSW about hardship programs and the energy retailers want to keep it this way. The key problem is a lack of knowledge of what is available. Victoria’s hardship programs have much better outcomes because they have been more widely publicised. So THE VOICE would like to set the record straight. Back in 2007 regulations were implemented to require all energy companies to develop payment plans for the benefit of consumers who are having difficulties paying their bills. Energy companies

are now required by law to implement and publish detailed customer hardship charters, advising customers of any Government concessions that may apply to them, together with flexible payment options as well as financial counselling services if appropriate. So why are energy retailers hiding this from consumers? Because it distorts their figures. They want bills paid as quickly as possible with little, if any, regard to the needs of their customers. THE VOICE has learnt that some customers have been told that if they are unable to pay a bill due to financial hardship reasons, they must pay a lump sum, often over $500 upfront, before being eligible for the hardship program. This is simply not true. Other customers have reported that their energy retailer advised them to obtain EAPA vouchers to pay their bills. While EAPA vouchers or Energy Accounts Payment Assistance are definitely very useful for customers, they are only for small amounts so can certainly not pay entire energy bills. These vouchers are funded by the NSW Government and are administered by welfare organisations, including St Vincent de Paul, the Salvation

Army and Anglicare. You can contact your local welfare organisation’s office to find out more. Some other rarely known rebates include the Life Support Rebate for customers who require certain lifesaving medical equipment in their homes (such as a kidney dialysis machine or a respirator/ventilator). There is also a Medical Energy Rebate for customers unable to regulate their body temperature due to a medical condition (such as Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis). To be eligible for this, a doctor who has been treating you for at least 3 months must verify this and the energy account holder in your home must have a Pensioner Concession Card, a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or a Commonwealth Health Care Card. If your energy retailer slaps you with a late fee and discourages you from entering a payment plan of smaller instalments, know your rights and voice your concerns. If, after speaking with your energy retailer directly, the problem isn’t fixed or you’re not satisfied, you can contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW on 1800 246 545.

CPSACampaigns


INCOMESECURITY

CentrelinkAge Pension 13 23 00

DSP/Carer benefits 13 27 17Family Assistance 13 61 50

Welfare Rights CentreInfo on Government pensions

and other benefits(02) 9211 53001800 226 028

National Information Centre on Retirement InvestmentsAnything for the small investor and people wondering about

super or how to invest1800 020 110

Financial Ombudsman Services

Complaints about banking, insurance, super, financial

planning 1300 780 808

Industry Fund FinancialPlanning

1300 138 848

Australian Taxation OfficeSuper/Lost super 13 10 20

Personal tax 13 28 61

British Pensions inAustralia

Assistance in claiming the British Pension(02) 9521 79641300 308 353

No Interest Loans Scheme1800 509 994

RIGHTS

Australian Human Rights Commission

Complaints about discrimination and

harassment 1300 369 711

Commonwealth Ombudsman

Complaints about Federal Government departments and

agencies 1300 362 072

NSW Ombudsman’s Office Complaints about NSW Government agencies

1800 451 524

NSW Trustee and Guardian1300 360 466

Guardianship TribunalFinancial management orders

for people with decision-making disabilities

1800 463 928

Seniors Information Service13 12 44

Consumer Trader & Tenancy Tribunal

Tenancy, trader and consumer disputes13 32 20

Energy & Water Ombudsman (EWON)

Complaints about all NSW electricity/gas retailers and Sydney and Hunter Water

1800 246 545

TelecommunicationsIndustry Ombudsman

Phone and internet complaints 1800 062 058

GOODSANDSERVICE

Telstra Pensioner DiscountFor basic plans only

1800 353 652

NSW Seniors CardDiscounts on goods and services 1300 364 758

NSW Companion CardFree event admission for

companions of eligible people with a disability 1800 893 044

IPART Energy ComparisonCalculator 1300 136 888

HEALTHANDCARE

Commonwealth CareLinkInfo about aged and

community care 1800 052 222

Office of Hearing ServicesSubsidised hearing aids

1800 500 726

Dementia Helpline1800 100 500

Single-gender Ward Hotline For patients who wish

to be placed in a single-gender ward after 24hrs

hospitalisation1800 700 830

VisionCare NSWSubsidised spectacles

(02) 9344 4122 1800 806 851

Home Care Service NSWDomestic assistance, respite

and personal care 1800 044 043

Rape Crisis Centre24hours/7days 1800 424 017

Health Care Complaints Commission

NSW only (02) 9219 74441800 043 159

Carers NSWInformation, support

1800 242 636Emergency respite

1800 059 059

Aged care information lineResidential and community

aged care information1800 200 422

Aged Care Complaints Scheme

Complaints about residential and community aged care

1800 550 552

LifelineMental health support,

suicide prevention 13 11 14

Beyond BlueDepression and anxiety

information 1300 224 636

Public Dental Health Services

Call NSW Health for details(02) 9391 90001800 639 398

Medicare Enhanced Primary Care Dental Scheme

Call Medicare for details132 011

People with DisabilitiesAdvice for people with a

disability(02) 9370 31001800 422 016

Exit AustraliaInformation about euthanasia

1300 103 948

Dying with Dignity NSW(02) 9212 4782

Australian Men’s Shed

Association 1300 550 009

HOUSING

CPSA’s Older Persons Tenants’ Service (OPTS)

Individual advocacy(02) 9566 11201800 13 13 10

CPSA’s Park and Village Service (PAVS)

Individual advocacy for caravan parks and

manufactured homes villages(02) 9566 10101800 177 688

NSW Department of Housing

Info and applications1300 468 746

Tenants Advice LineMondays 3-6pm1800 251 101

LEGAL

The Aged-care Rights Service including Older Persons’ Legal ServiceAged care and retirement

village advocacy and information and legal advice

for older people.(02) 9281 36001800 424 079

Law AccessReferrals for legal help

1300 888 529

The Law SocietySolicitor and legal firm

referrals(02) 9926 03001800 422 713

Community Justice Centres Dispute resolution services for minor matters 9228 7455

Domestic Violence Advocacy Service

1800 200 526

Family Relationship Centres Relationship and separation information 1800 050 321

Office of the Legal Services Commissioner

Complaints about lawyers and conveyancers 1800 242 958

CPSAInformationDirectory


Giggle Page

CrosswordSolutionsCrosswordonpage4

Mr. Gable had a leak in the roof over his dining room, so he called a repairman to take a look at it.

“When did you first notice the leak?” the repairman enquired.

Mr. Gable scowled. “Last night, when it took me two hours to finish my soup.”

“Open wider.” requested the dentist, as he began his examina-tion of the patient.

“Good Gosh!” he said, startled. “You’ve got the biggest cavity I’ve ever seen - the biggest cavity I’ve ever seen.”

“OK!” replied the patient. “I’m scared enough without you say-ing something like that twice.”

“I didn’t!” said the dentist. “That was the echo.”

A waiter brought a customer the steak he ordered with his thumb over the meat.

“Are you crazy?” yelled the customer, “your hand is on my steak!”

“What?” answered the waiter, “You want it to fall on the floor again?”

How do sheep keep warm in winter? Central bleating.

Doctor, I get heartburn every time I eat birthday cake. Next time, take off the candles.

What do you call an elephant in a phone box? Stuck.

What did one tooth say to the other? Get your cap on, the dentist is taking us out tonight.

How do rabbits say good-bye to carrots?It’s been nice gnawing you! The evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.

Due to the cost of electricity the “Light at the end of the tunnel” has been switched off.

Are you getting maximum mileage out of your vehicle?

THE VOICE April 2012

Documents

Transcript of THE VOICE April 2012