There is election coming, but there is a Federal Budget coming first. With a focus on Incomes, Mature Age Employment, Human Rights, Aged Care Reform, Anti-discrimination Law, Dental and Oral health, COTA Australia's Pre-Budget Submission advocates for better outcomes for older Australians. We strongly believe that a Whole-of-Government Strategy for Older Australians is necessary given the breadth and range of the portfolio areas that touch on older people's lives.
Our submission acknowledges Government's comprehensive response to the Aged Care Royal Commission and the extensive work that is underway to implement these commitments. However, we note that there are a number of recommendations that have not yet been conclusively agreed to or funded by the Government and we are calling for a commitment to the higher level of staffing time in residential care, including 24/7 nurses available onsite and government commitment to fund the decision of the Fair Work Commission on the current work value case. We also want to see the Royal Commission's recommendation for a Senior Dental Benefits Scheme, not only for those in aged care homes but for all lower income older Australians.
While the past two years has rightly focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, as we move into the next stage of COVID-19 it is important to consider the situation of older workers in the economic recovery. Critical to our country's recovery are measures to get mature workers back into the workforce and encourage them to remain in the workforce. Similarly, work commenced prior to the pandemic must be continued. This includes consideration of how retirement income policy can be improved based on the observations of the Retirement Income Review.
You can find more details on our budget submission on the website https://www.cota.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/COTA-Australia-Pre-Budget-Submission-2022-23-FINAL.pdf
