the voice june 2013

1 June2013 THEVOICEOFPENSIONERSANDSUPERANNUANTSOFNSW

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OF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSWPrint Post Approved PP235387100064 ISSN 10353615 June 2013

MR TODD Pepper, Queensland director of Alceon property group which recently snapped up eight residential parks across NSW and Queensland valued at $90 million, was frank when he explained his role in the company to The Courier Mail: “My background is not about running over-50s parks. It’s about securitising cashflows based on the risk of those cashflows… From my perspective the risk from a manufactured home park is significantly less than most other property classes” (8 March, 2013). That risk in NSW may be even less come 2014. The legislation overseeing residential parks is under review and if the proposed changes go through, park operators are likely to make a motza at residents’ expense. The Residential (Land Lease) Communities Bill 2013 will allow agreements between park operators and residents to include a clause to ‘gift’ 10% of a home’s sale

proceeds or 50% of any capital gain to the park operator. In other words, when a resident sells their home, the park operator will be able to get a cut. No matter that the park operator owns the land on which the home was situated, received rent or fees from the owner throughout their residency, and never paid a cent for the home. This is about keeping the industry viable! Worse still, the industry is apparently gunning for this clause because this kind of thing is common in retirement villages. Not only is this a poor justification for poor policy, it ignores the fact that residential park residents only own their home, not the land on which it sits (unlike retirement villagers). It also ignores the fact that retirement villages cannot be redeveloped into something else. Residents will also be

Your residential Park maY get a lot more exPensive

Continued page 7

Save Welfare Rights!

On 30 June 2013, the Welfare Rights Community Legal Centre will lose 40 per cent of its funding from the NSW Government. This will mean they will have to dramatically reduce their services to people in receipt of Centrelink payments. Welfare Rights helps more than 4,000 people each year in NSW who have problems with Centrelink.

CPSA urges you to write to Premier Barry O’Farrell calling on him to reverse the decision to cut Welfare Rights’ funding. Write to: The Hon. Barry O’Farrell, MP, GPO Box 5341, SYDNEY NSW 2001, or email: [email protected] or call 9228 5239.

You can also go online to find out more about the campaign: http://bit.ly/19XPI5z or call CPSA on: 1800 451 488.


CPSAExecutive(as at 2.11.2012)

Grace Selway OAM CPSA President

Bob JayCPSA Secretary

Betty ChamberlainCPSA Treasurer

Bill HollandCPSA Snr Vice PresidentAssistant Treasurer

Janet CoxonCPSA Vice President

Sue LatimerAssistant Secretary

Shirley BainsMargaret Craven-ScottJim GraindaLyn MacIverGeorge RayColin VernonBarbara Wright

THEVOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSW

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

All content is 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

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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.

LettersBlacktown pensioners to lose $50 a year

BLACKTOWN Council Councillors have recently voted to reduce the council rates rebate for pensioners in their local area by $50 per annum. I must say it was a generous rebate of $150 plus the NSW rebate of $250. Although we will also have a 14.7 per cent increase to our garbage collection fees for the 2013/14 financial year (taking it from $342 to $392 per annum). I would not normally object to modest regular increases alongside other cost of living increases, but this Council, through years of prudent fiscal management, had accumulated more than $200 million from which it derives interest. Now, the budget for the coming year is $376.9 million. They are hoping to save

$1 million from the pension rebate cuts. In a budget of that size, it sounds like petty cash. It will not make any difference to the capital works expenditure especially when they will spend more than $500,000 just to beautify the City’s Nurragingy Gardens entrance!

Stavros AdamantidisQuakers Hill, NSW

NSW Government attack on Supplement

WE WRITE to express our extreme disappointment at the NSW Government’s decision to take 25 per cent of our recently acquired Clean Energy Supplement payment from the Australian Government. According to Centrelink, “this is a tax free payment and does not count as income for social security or family assistance purposes”. It is so sad that we

pensioners have to yet again suffer an attack by Housing NSW on the pittance given to us by the Australian Government. While we expect to have to part with a percentage of general increases to the pension, to take from a supplement designed as a tax free payment is in ours, and many others opinions, disgusting.

Bill and Gail WestonGateshead NSW

A win for disability but link with transport ignored

IT’S UNIQUE and pleasing to see the whole Australian Government, on both sides of politics, on common ground regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (DisabilityCare). Although the NSW Government obviously appreciated the value of the Gonski report benefits, along with the Newcastle

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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. Please send me information about making a bequest to CPSA in my will.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.

June2013 www.cpsa.org.au 1800451488 3

Catholic Diocese and the Hunter Development Corporation, they seem to have lost the connection between providing a better life for people with disability and the need by the same people for fast, convenient and accessible passenger rail transport to and from Newcastle. Any pretense that getting off the train at Wickham onto a fanciful ‘fast frequent’ bus is better, faster, safer or more convenient than staying on the train for a four minute trip has no connection whatsoever to reality. One can only hope that the NSW Government realises very soon that they have been tricked, and get on with a sensible and practical proposal for the Hunter.

George Paris Rathmines NSW

Country NSW pensioners duped in rebates

I WRITE to you with concern in relation to the lack of pensioner rebate increases for country NSW pensioners. To date pensioners who live in the Northern Rivers area have not experienced an increase in their water or land rebates in 20 years. Currently the pensioners in the Lismore City Council area are only receiving a very low rebate of $87.50 per year for their water. This hasn’t increased in approximately 20 years, and pensioners are struggling to meet the costs. The rebate does not even cover the cost of connecting the water to the property. I have read on your website that Sydney pensioners last year were receiving a whopping $617.00 rebate for their water, and pensioners in the Hunter region were

receiving $239.00 a year rebate for water. At the same time, country NSW pensioners in the Lismore area are receiving very little in the way of rebate at all, only $87.50 per year. As the price of water increases annually, pensioners in the Lismore area are struggling to pay for the service. Not only has the water rebate for pensioners in the Lismore area remained the same for the past 20 years, the Council Rate Rebate has also remained the same, putting greater pressure on pensioners who are struggling to make ends meet.

Mark Lobegeier Goonellabah NSW

Stroke rehab programs to close

IN OCTOBER last year my wife had a stroke which left her paralysed down the right side with dysphasia/aphasia. During the stroke she fell and broke her ankle. This was not detected until the second week of her stay in the acute stroke ward at St George Hospital. This was subsequently operated on. In early December, she was transferred to the St George rehab unit where she received a program involving leg and arm muscle exercises and speech therapy. However, before any real improvement could be made, we were told that she had exceeded her limit on the number of days in rehab and was subsequently assessed as high care and forced to leave the hospital. We were fortunate to be able to secure a high care place in the John Paul Nursing Home in Heathcote. However, as there was

no rehab physiotherapist at the nursing home, I sought assistance from the Sutherland Hospital Allied Care Unit to continue the rehab process. She has since been attending this clinic where she is receiving very good therapy and is making some good progress considering her condition. Unfortunately, I was recently advised that most of these outpatient programs will cease after June this year due to financial constraints. I will then need to seek help from private therapists involving high costs and multiple visits to different clinics. With nursing home costs at $2,500 per month, this cessation of the rehab programs and redirection to private clinics will place a considerable strain on our finances. The closure of these programs means that stroke victims will be denied access to ongoing rehabilitation and life improvements. The only avenue available to us is the ongoing assistance that I provide and the small amount provided by the nursing home.

Glen Beauchamp Engadine NSW

Retirement village residents need Council Rate Rebates too

I LIVE in a retirement village and unfortunately we do not receive any Council Rebate on the amount we pay to the owners of the village (Stockland Ltd) for rates. This amount is included in our budget each year from which our weekly payments are calculated. A rebate for rates would be a big help to residents of retirement villages, as

many are pensioners. In fact, in the case of our village, approximately 93 per cent are pensioners. By living in these complexes, although not ideal, residents are freeing up accommodation for families in the community. Even after the above mentioned I would like to add my name on your Council Rate Rebate petition.

Betty HarvieSwansea NSW

Letters

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

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Guildford CPSA $150P. Lenton $100C. Madhusudana $50B. O’Reilly $38Rockdale Bowls Group $71

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.

Calling CPSA

CPSA office hours are 9am – 4pm Monday – Friday.

Outside of these hours, and when all lines are busy, calls are answered by the CPSA answering machine. If you reach the answering machine, please leave a clear message with your phone number, so your call can be returned.

Across

1. Deliberately8. Freight charges9. Citizens of Nuku’alofa10. Small-scale portraits11. Italian river12. Gut protrusion14. Left side of a vehicle17. Pardon20. Skills23. Newts24. In spite of25. Emphasis26. Bunches of flowers27. Hard as a rock(5, 2, 1, 5)

Down

1. Worship2. Stress3. Deal4. Collectors ofpremiums (9,6)5. Memos6. Carriages7. Pined13. Tear15. Plants with trees16. ... Amin, Ugandandictator18. Consequences19. Bertrand...,philosopher21. Brisk tempo22. Reshape24. Classified

CROSSWORD by Hilda Thorburn

Share THE VOICE

When you’ve finished reading your copy of THE VOICE why not place it with your local library? We can also send the library additional copies directly - just ask them to contact us on 1800 451 488.


Members’page

CPSA Constitution

The CPSA Constitution with updates from the 2012 AGM is available on our website. Visit www.cpsa.org.au and click ‘About Us’.

Tech Savvy Seniors

The NSW Government has partnered with Telstra to develop the Tech Savvy Seniors program to encourage more seniors to embrace technology, no matter where they live, how old they are or where their interests lie.

Tech Savvy Seniors provides low cost or free training through community colleges and libraries to older people, particularly in rural and remote areas of NSW.

Educational training DVDs have been designed for those who are new to technology or who want to learn more at their own pace.

The DVDs consist of short, easy-to-follow videos that cover a range of popular technology topics, including:

• Computing and email• Tablets• Learning e-readers• Using a mobile phone• Internet• Social networking• Internet security• Home networking

DVDs have been sent to CPSA Branches and Affiliates for loan within the group. If anyone would like to borrow a DVD directly from CPSA Head Office, please contact us on 1800 451 488 so one can be sent to you.

Call to Protected Tenants

CPSA recently wrote to all NSW MPs about the NSW Government’s plan to scrap the Landlord and Tenant (Amendment) Act 1948, calling for their support to ensure that the current protections for protected tenants remain unchanged by keeping the Act.

Without it, it’s likely we’ll see a number of frail older people on low incomes being evicted from their homes. International studies suggest that even if alternative accomodation is found, the relocation of frail older people is likely to result in their premature death.

If you think you might be a protected tenant call CPSA’s Older Persons Tenants’ Service on 1800 131 310.

CPSA fearlessly campaigns for the rights and interests of its Members.

As a Member of CPSA, you know that we’re working for a better deal for YOU.Join today!

Visit www.cpsa.org.au or go to page 2

Noreen Hewett: Portrait of a Grassroots Activist

Dorothy Cora of the Older Women’s Network (OWN) has written a book about the life of Noreen Hewett who was an early member of OWN and an active campaigner. Noreen was also a CPSA Life Member. The book outlines Noreen’s lifelong career in grassroots activism which began in 1945. Contact OWN on (02) 9247 7046 or via [email protected] to purchase a copy ($15 including postage).

About CPSA

CPSA is a non-profit, non-party-political membership association founded in 1931 which serves pensioners of all ages, superannuants and low-income retirees.

CPSA has 130 Branches and affiliated organisations with a combined membership of over 29,000 people living throughout NSW.

CPSA’s aim is to improve the standard of living and well-being of its Members and constituents.

CPSA engages in systemic advocacy on behalf of its constituency and also auspices four services: the Health Promotion Service for Older People, the Older Persons Tenants’ Service, the Park and Village Service and a Community Visitors Scheme.

What would it take for you to make a bequest to CPSA?

Maybe you don’t have a will and don’t want the expense of hiring a lawyer. Maybe you haven’t thought about all the campaigns CPSA has won. Maybe you have a will but don’t want the bother of changing it. Maybe you want to hear more personal stories about people who have benefited from CPSA’s campaigns. Maybe you want to hear from someone who has made a bequest in their will.

Whatever the reason, we want to hear from you.

We might not be able to do everything that everyone wants, but CPSA is your organisation. The purpose of the bequest program is to keep your organisation fighting for people like you well into the future. The program needs to meet your needs in order to be successful and sustainable. Please phone CPSA on 1800 451 488 with your thoughts.


CPSAMemberBenefit


CPSACampaignsup for paying sewerage charges and ‘late fees’ for late payment of utility accounts. (Residential park residents typically pay their park operator for utilities.) There is no detail on what constitutes ‘late’ or how much this fee might be. Late fees under regulated utility contracts are themselves tightly regulated, so it’s unfair that residential park residents will be slugged with such fees without the accompanying consumer protections that cover the rest of the population. It’s a case of the park operator having their cake and eating it too. If the operator wants to jack up site fees and residents are under an ‘increase by notice’ agreement, the operator may only do so if 60 days’ notice is provided and the rise happens only once in a 12-month period. However, if residents wish to dispute the rise, at least 25% of them must lodge an application to do so, and then residents and the operator will go into ‘mediation’ to come to an agreement. Sounds cordial, doesn’t it? Well, delve a bit deeper and things get a bit frosty. There’s no detail on what mediation will look like or who pays for it. Plus, ‘mediation’ (for those in the know) conjures up an image of a one-sided affair where the most powerful party wins. No prizes for guessing who that will be. Finally, the compensation measures for park residents who have to move because the park is being sold or

redeveloped are weak, complex and confusing. The Bill states that compensation is paid if the resident moves to another park operated by the same operator, but not if it’s operated by a different one. Nice bit of manoeuvring to benefit operators there. There are also no provisions for moving costs to be paid in advance so that residents can actually afford the move. There are a handful of good things in the Bill, but it’s important that residents know about the reduction in rights they could see if the Bill is passed in its current form. The consultation period for the Bill has been extended to 7 June, 2013. Comments may be emailed to: [email protected] or posted to: Fair Trading Policy, PO BOX 972, PARRAMATTA NSW, 2124, or faxed to: 02 9338 8918. A copy of the draft Bill can be found at: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/About_us/Have_you_say/Residential_land_lease_communities_bill.html or by contacting Fair Trading on 133 220. You should also let your local State MP know about any concerns you have. They’re only going to vote for sensible amendments to the Bill if they know their constituents will be worse off without them. CPSA’s Park and Village Service (PAVS) put in a submission that can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/12U9gpg. If you do not wish to write your own submission you may wish to write a letter to Fair Trading and your local MP stating that you

support PAVS’ submission. For details of your local MP, contact CPSA Head Office on 02 9281 3588 or 1800 451 488 (free for country callers).

Electricity prices set to go down, but not just yetTHERE may well be a light at the end of the tunnel for households struggling with the ever-rising electricity bills. IPART (the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal), which is responsible for setting the maximum price for the regulated retailers, has released the price increases that electricity companies will be able to charge for the next three years. The regulated retailers

are EnergyAustralia, Origin (Endeavour Energy) and Origin (Essential Energy which used to be known as Country Energy before it was bought out). If you are with a different electricity provider, the regulated price is still relevant to you because it influences what the market -based companies charge. IPART’s pricing is still in a draft form so it’s possible that things may change but here is the low down. There will be an average price increase of 3 per cent across the three regulated electricity companies in the coming year, leading to an increase in bills of between $0.20 and $1.60 per week (depending on which provider you are

Continued from page 1

Got an energy saving tip?The NSW Government wants to collate a list of energy-saving ideas, and they’d like to hear from you.

One CPSA Member has already told us her idea – she only turns on her electric hot water system once a week. She says that this saves a lot of money.

Please contact CPSA with your most effective ideas. We’ll publish them in THE VOICE and also pass them on to the NSW Government.

• What have you tried? • What has worked? • What hasn’t?

Send your ideas to CPSA:Mail Level 9, 28 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010Fax 02 9281 9716Email [email protected] call Amelia on 1800 451 488.


with). The good news is that IPART predicts that price increases from July 2014 will be less than inflation (about 1 per cent) and that from 2015 they expect prices to fall (finally!) by about 6 per cent. But everything isn’t rosy. There is a charge in people’s bills called a ‘customer acquisition and retention cost allowance’ which this is going up from $36.80 per customer per year to $22/MWh. Without this, electricity prices for many customers would be starting to go down. IPART estimates that an average customer will be paying $143 a year more than the efficient cost of supplying electricity due to this allowance. It makes no sense that households are lumped with the cost of acquiring new customers in the name of increasing competition. CPSA cannot see the logic in giving retailers an extra allowance in the hope that in time it will push prices down. CPSA made this known in our submission. There are a few other nasties as well: late fees will go up from $7.50 to $10.90 without explanation. IPART asked for evidence of the costs incurred by the companies but neither EnergyAustralia nor Origin Energy provided estimates. Dishonoured cheque fees are staying at double the cost of what the energy company is charged by the bank. In more positive news, the NSW Government has proposed a restriction on the ability of retailers to charge early termination fees when people want to leave a contract. Should this go through, customers will be able to switch to a better deal more

easily and it will be a win for those in insecure housing who may move more frequently.

Budget 2013AS expected, there wasn’t a swag of goodies for pensioners in this year’s Federal Budget. The DisabilityCare Scheme stole the show and rightly so, considering it is a very welcome and long-overdue reform. But the one measure that was pitched at pensioners may be more akin to getting socks and undies for Christmas than getting anything flash. The ‘supporting seniors who downsize their home’ measure will provide $112.4 million over four years to encourage downsizing the family home by allowing leftover proceeds from the sale to be quarantined from the pension means test. The Australian Government will only trial this initiative over three years starting 1 July 2014 and expects 30,000 people to benefit. But that figure is likely to be pretty optimistic for four reasons. One: The scheme is only open to people who have owned their home for 25 years or more, excluding a big chunk of the retiree population. Two: The rules on what happens with excess sale proceeds are quite narrow. A pensioner must put at least 80% of excess proceeds in the means-test-exempt account, up to a maximum of $200,000. Money in the account cannot be touched. If it is, the entire amount is no longer exempt from the pension means test. Three: Many pensioners avoid downsizing because of stamp duties imposed by the states and territories (except

the ACT). Four: Given that 90% of older people want to remain in their current home for the rest of their retirement, very few would be interested in downsizing in the first place. Making it easier to downsize is a welcome initiative, but it’s unclear whether this scheme will make much of a difference given it’s somewhat arbitrary and has harsh rules. Other stuff – the goodoThe already-announced

funding for the DisabilityCare Scheme (previously called the NDIS) - $14.3 billion over seven years.

oExtension of the Broadband for Seniors program with $9.9 million over four years for new technology & training.

oExtension of BreastScreen Australia program to women aged between 70 and 74 (good reform that reflects CPSA policy).

o$4.6 million into a Policy Institute for Ageing.

oCommitment to a cost-benefit analysis of better wound management for people living in the community.

oNew medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme, including Lyrica (chronic nerve pain treatment), Neupro (treatment of Parkinson’s disease) and Juvicor (treatment of type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol).

The not so good oNo increase to the

Newstart Allowance, which is now $497 per fortnight for singles. Over 132,000 people aged between 45 and 64 live on Newstart, most of whom have done so for more

than 12 months. oNo increase to

Commonwealth Rent Assistance or injection of funds to boost public housing stock.

o No removal of the age cap (65 years) on the DisabilityCare Scheme.

The restoChanging the means test

of annuities to be the same as the means test under the deeming rules – this brings into line the means-testing of annuities (which are currently treated favourably) with income derived from other cash assets from 1 July 2015. This change will only apply to new pensioners from the starting date.

oClosure of the Pension Bonus Scheme to new entrants from 1 March 2014. This Scheme was already closed in 2009 but still allowed new applicants who were already of Age Pension age. Pensioners who are already part of the scheme as at 1 March 2014 will continue to benefit.

What to expect from a Coalition GovernmentWITH the September election looming and the polls pointing to a Coalition win, it’s high time we knew what may be in store for pensioners. In his budget response, Mr Abbott outlined a few things that will affect many CPSA Members. Let’s start with the good news. Should a Coalition Government come into power, pensioners will be able to hang onto the Clean Energy Supplement that they have been receiving since March (the carbon tax compensation). The fate of this had

CPSACampaigns


CPSACampaignspreviously been up in the air due to the Coalition’s commitment to revoking the carbon tax. But there’s bad news for those on Newstart (the Dole) and other Centrelink Allowances. They will lose their Income Support Bonus (also called a Supplementary Allowance). This bonus ends up being $210 per year for singles $350 for couples, paid in two six-monthly instalments. This move is inconsistent with the overwhelming evidence that the payment level of Newstart is grossly inadequate (it’s currently $232.50 per week below the poverty line). In fact, on the day of Mr Abbott’s budget reply, the Lower House passed a motion declaring that Newstart is too low. Mr Abbott also announced that the Low Income Superannuation Contribution will be scrapped. It provides $500 per year to those who have an income of $37,000 or below. This effectively offsets the tax paid on their super guarantee contributions. Super tax concessions are still skewed towards the well-off and this initiative is one of the few that targets those who need it. This is a slap in the face for low-income workers who are most in need of a boost to their retirement savings.

Onya, Ita!AUSTRALIAN of the Year and National President of Alzheimer’s Australia Ita Buttrose recently gave a speech at the National

Press Club in Canberra. Some excerpts from that speech: “It is imperative that we have a high quality residential care system that respects the rights of residents. I don’t believe that is the case now. “Some facilities provide excellent care, but it seems to me that the majority struggle to appropriately care for people with high care needs. “Nearly one quarter of residents are chemically restrained with anti-psychotic medications, often without their consent, or the consent that’s legally required from their family.” These excerpts don’t reflect all the issues Ms Buttrose covered in her speech, but they do reflect what CPSA has been saying for years. CPSA fired off a congratulatory media release headlined “Good on Ita Buttrose for calling out nursing homes that abuse residents”. In this media release, CPSA referred to academic research into antipsychotic and benzodiazepine use in nursing homes, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, which makes the point about widespread and inappropriate use of medication in restraining nursing home residents. A fortnight later, CPSA received a letter from the Australian Government’s Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (ACSAA), which is responsible for auditing quality of care in nursing homes. “I was”, writes the Chair of the National Case Management Committee, Chris Falvey, “most

concerned to read your comments that chemical and physical restraint was going largely unchecked in Australian residential aged care homes. “While I accept that some of your comments appear to be drawn from Ms Buttrose’s speech, this does not accord with the reports I have received from our registered aged care quality assessors, who are undertaking visits to aged care homes. “I would appreciate it if you could identify these homes. “I do not ask that you identify individual residents, just the homes where you either have first-hand knowledge of residents of being restrained without appropriate legal consent, or the names of homes where you have been reliably informed that this

is occurring. “I share your concern about any misuse of restraint and need to consider whether to review our most recent assessments of these homes, or arrange fresh assessments of their performance.” CPSA has responded to Mr Falvey. “CPSA is unable to accede to your request to identify nursing homes where residents are unduly restrained, either chemically or physically for a number of reasons. “As you would be aware, the appropriate way to make complaints about residential aged care facilities, once it has become clear the dispute is unable to be resolved with the aged care provider concerned, is to make those complaints to the Department of Health and Ageing’s Aged Care Complaints scheme.

10June2013THEVOICEOFPENSIONERSANDSUPERANNUANTSOFNSW

licence, but why does a taxi itself need a licence? Sydney taxi licence plates change hands for around $400,000. The owner of a licence plate needs a return on that investment, which comes out of the fare. As a result, taxi fares are far higher than they need to be. Wouldn’t it be simpler (and cheaper!) to have an unrestricted number of unlicensed taxis on the road driven by licensed taxi drivers? Yes, it would, but Governments to date have wanted to avoid a fight with the industry. Taxi operators, who hold a significant block of taxi licence plates, might go on strike! Wouldn’t that disrupt the Sydney CBD! In its latest pricing proposal, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), is very clear about the need for taxi

industry reform: “…changes to fares alone are unlikely to solve all the problems raised with us, and a broader review of the industry is needed.” For now, IPART has proposed changes to the fare. The idea is to charge 50 cents more for the flag fall (currently $3.50), but to reduce the standard per-kilometre rate from $2.14 to $2. So if you have no car and you live 3,600 metres (just over 2 miles) from the shops, there’ll be no increase. Any less than 3,600 metres, your fare will be a bit more expensive. Any more than 3,600 metres, it’ll be cheaper. If you live in the country, nothing changes at all. IPART estimates that the average urban fare would go down by 1 per cent. It means that those people on the Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme will be able to travel two kilometres further for a $60 fare. Woohoo!

CPSACampaigns “This is the route CPSA invariably follows. Once the end of that route is reached, CPSA may decide to continue with its advocacy in other ways. “As you would be aware, the Complaints Scheme refers complaints that relate to systemic issues to the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, of which the National Case Management Committee is a part. “CPSA has been a long-standing critic of the various complaints schemes that have been in operation since the commencement of the Aged Care Act 1997. “CPSA therefore readily accepts that not all complaints of a systemic nature may reach the National Case Management Committee. “However, as you would readily agree, that is not a reason to bypass the Complaints Scheme. “CPSA also continues to be critical of the assessments of residential aged care facilities carried out by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency. “This critical attitude is based on the inherent inadequacy of the assessment system itself and the questionable interpretation of what constitutes a meaningful assessment of a residential aged care facility as evidenced in published assessment reports.” THE VOICE invites readers to contact CPSA on [email protected] , 02 9281 3588 or 1800 451 488 to share their experiences. CPSA also runs an aged care blog: agedcaresite.wordpress.com/

Over 4000 pensioners to tell Premier O’Farrell that the Council Rate Rebate must go upCPSA’S PETITION calling for an increase to the pensioner Council Rate Rebate is now at over 4,000 signatures! CPSA is calling for an increase to this rebate, which has not budged since it was introduced in 1993. It needs to be indexed at a percentage of rates so that pensioners are able to stay in their homes. Our campaigning on this issue is becoming all the more important as an Independent Government Review Panel recently came out with a recommendation that the rebate be scrapped altogether. The NSW Government has yet to make a decision on this recommendation so now is the time to put on the pressure. Readers are urged to contact their local state MPs to let them know that the rebate needs to go up rather than out. We will be submitting the petition signatures to the NSW Parliament at the end of June, so if you have any petition sheets floating around, please post them to CPSA Head Office as soon as possible. If you have any questions or would like a copy of the petition please contact CPSA on 1800 451 488.

Taxi!INDUSTRY watchers have long despaired at the unwillingness or inability of successive NSW Governments to reform the taxi industry. Everyone agrees that a taxi driver should have a

Get involved in the future of your local area

By law, each NSW Council must have a Community Strategic Plan which identifies the main priorities and aspirations for the future of the local government area.

The Community Strategic Plan must address civic leadership, social, environmental and economic issues. It must be based on social justice principles of equity, access, participation and rights. Following last year’s local government elections, Councils have been busily reviewing the Community Strategic Plan. This is something they must do before 30 June 2013.

As part of that review, the Council may keep the plan as is, make changes or even adopt a new one to ensure that the area has a Community Strategic Plan covering at least the next 10 years.

This means that CPSA Branches have an opportunity to tell their Council what they would like to see happen over the next ten years. Branches and affiliated organisations are encouraged to contact their local Council and have their say.

Submissions received by the Council must be considered by the Council before the plan or amendment is endorsed.


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 Pension1300 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 Australian 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 Tribunal

Financial management orders for people with decision-

making disabilities1800 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

Private Health Insurance Ombudsman

Complaints and information1300 737 299

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 500 853

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

People with DisabilitiesAdvice for people with a

disability(02) 9370 31001800 422 016

Exit AustraliaInformation about euthanasia

1300 103 948

Dying with Dignity NSWLaw reform for assisted dying

(02) 9212 4782www.dwdnsw.org.au

Australian Men’s Shed Association 1300 550 009

HOUSING

CPSA’s Older Persons Tenants’ Service (OPTS)

Advice and advocacy(02) 9566 11201800 131 310

CPSA’s Park and Village Service (PAVS)

Advice and advocacy for residents in residential parks

(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

referrals1800 422 713

Community Justice Centres Dispute resolution services

for minor matters 1800 990 777

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

Solar panel sales

Last year I had solar panels installed on the roof of my house in an effort to reduce my power bills. Today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He complained that the work had been completed a year ago and I still hadn’t paid for them.

So, I told him just what his fast-talking sales guy told me last year...that these solar panels would pay for themselves in a year. Hellooooo? It’s been a year, so they’re paid for, I told him.

There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally hung up. He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.

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If you are one of our children, dial 1 and then select the option from 1 to 5 in order of “birth arrival” so we know who it is.

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Crossword SolutionsCrossword on page 4

Photo by Robyn von Swank

Wallabies campaign to be considered as cute as puppies for toilet paper ads

the voice june 2013

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