Shadow Minister for Seniors, Bronwyn Bishop and Shadow Minister for Ageing, Senator Fierravanti-Wells said that Seniors Week was a time for celebrating the contribution that senior Australians have made and continue to make within our community.
“It is important that Australia’s 6.1 million seniors are recognised for the contribution they have made to the success and building of our great nation and there is no better time to do that than during Seniors Week,” Mrs Bishop said.
The Coalition strongly believes that with Australians living longer and healthier lives, it is a cause of great celebration and is not a reason to cast doom and gloom on Australia’s future, which the Rudd Labor Government continues to do.
“It is disappointing that Prime Minister Rudd choses to demonise senior Australians as a burden to which the government needs to find solution, this truly shows how out of touch his government is,” Mrs Bishop said.
“The Coalition is determined that Australia keeps faith with those who have contributed so much to the building of our country,” said Shadow Minister for Ageing, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
“The delivery of a high quality, affordable and accessible aged care scheme that meets the needs and preferences of older Australians is a priority for the Coalition.
“With the aged care industry in meltdown and 40% of aged care providers operating in the red and 2,000 aged care beds and 786 bed licences lost since 2007, the outlook is bleak for aged care in Australia.
“Older Australians and families seeking care and support for their loved ones deserve more than a minister described by the Australian Financial Review as a conspicuous failure, who is simply not up to the job in the important aged care portfolio,” said Shadow Minister for Ageing, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.