Budget 2013: COTA Australia responds. (PDF)

We ask our members to sign the ACOSS petition calling for the increase, and telephone your Federal MP to tell them you support a raise in Newstart.

The COTA Vic 2013 State Conference is a key event for older Victorians, and organisations with an interest in issues that impact on older people.

The theme of the conference is The Rights of Older People, and will feature exciting guest speakers, workshops and discussions on issues important to older people, and how their rights can make a difference.

The Conference will cover issues such as: older drivers, age discrimination, aged care reform, health services and your rights as a patient;

Register on-line now or if you are unable to do so, please call 03 9655 2125.

Become a member and SAVE on registration cost. 

Download Conference Program and Workshop details.

More information or find out more about our conference and past conferences  

There have been no increases in concessions, and additional funding will only be to meet growth of numbers accessing the program.

This is particularly disappointing in relation to water concessions, which are probably going to rise in Victoria by 21-26% from 1 July. Most pensioners will face a bill increase of 30-40%, even by up to 52%. This is because: the concession is capped at $277 and is legisated to increase by CPI only: and price increases and bill increases are not always equal.

Of further concern are the proposed changes to the concessions framework for energy, with the Government indicating they will change from the current percentage basis to a capped figure.

From the Budget documents:

The Budget estimates that the combined impact of the reduction in the amount of concessions paid to ineligible recipients and the reduction in electricity consumption for legitimate concession card holders will reduce expenditure by around $9 million in 2013-14.

To streamline the administration of concessions, the backdating of concessions payments provided through the Department of Human Services will be standardised to 12 months.

Application for excess concessions assistance will require households to make an affirmation, which includes that they are not using gas or electricity for business purposes or for illegal activity. Excess concessions assistance will be granted after that affirmation, and be subject to random audits.

Households will also be provided with assistance to lower their power bills, with additional information and/or a visit from an expert in reducing power bills.

People receiving medical power concessions will not need to apply for excess concessions assistance.

Fairer Fire Services Levy and concession

As announced prior to the Budget, a new fire services levy has been introduced, as recommended by the Bushfire Royal Commission.  Previously the levy was applied to property insurance. Under the new arrangements the levy will be paid by all home owners, comprising a fixed charge and a variable charge based on the value of their property. A $50 concession on the fixed charge will be available for property owners who receive a rates concession.

Information and assistance to reduce energy bills

$2 million to enable senior Victorians to access support information, tools and programs to help them to get better value from their utility providers.

Increased funding for Community Care

$140 million boost over four years will help older Victorians live at home, through Home and Community Care Services (HACC), a program jointly funded by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, which also receives funding from local government

Health Services

With a strong focus on infrastructure, and strengthening the state’s health services, older Victorians will feel the benefit of funding to extend and build new health services, particularly in regional areas.

These include:

• Community hospital in Waurn Ponds
• New hospital in Bendigo
• Further investment into Warrnambool-based cancer service centre
• New 32 bed facility at Northern hospital
• New Numurkah hospital to replace the facility destroyed in the March 2012 floods
• Redevelopment and expansion of public dental services at the Western Region Health Centre
• Funds to improve responses to heart disease and stroke

Funds have also been allocated to increase elective surgery activity and to help reduce waiting lists.

Social Housing and Homelessness Support

While there was disappointment that there was no new funding, extension of current programs for people facing or at risk of homelessness was welcomed.

In an important initiative $9.1 million has been allocated to service gas heaters in publicly owned homes. This initiative establishes a regular servicing program for gas heaters in public housing. The initiative will reduce risks to public tenants and improve safety in public housing properties.

Financial Counselling

$7 million has been allocated to continue financial counselling services for Victorians experiencing economic hardship for a further 12 months. Thirty-four Victorian community agencies will be funded provide financial assistance and help to approximately 40,000 Victorians per year in face-to-face sessions and over the phone.

Signed to Columbia Records in Europe at the age of 21, Maddy Hay has already two albums to her name, marking just the beginning of what we can expect to see from this mesmerising jazz vocalist.

Heralded as ‘a singer too young to be this good’ by the ABC’s Limelight Magazine, Maddy Hay will grace the Just Theatre stage with her alluring blend of fantasy/pop-infused jazz.

Playful yet sultry, uninhibited yet refined, novel yet timeless, Maddy Hay is one of a kind. Audiences, prepare to be enchanted.

Tickets are $28 full, $23 concession (plus booking fee).

For ticket sales and further information visit www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/festival-time or call 9278 4770 during business hours.

The Kew Court House is located at 188 High Street.

Festival Time at Kew Court House presents a program of performances, talks and exhibitions presented by the City of Boroondara in conjunction with the resident art groups of the Kew Court House during this year’s Kew Community Festival.

For more information about the Kew Community Festival visit kewfestival.org, email info@kewfestival.org or call 9853 9576.

Attendees will receive a copy of Dr Byock’s book “The Four Things that Matter Most”. Refreshments will be served at 3.30 pm.

The theme of the conference, “Putting words into action”, reflects upon the need to take action through doing the basic and applied research, taking action on implementing advance care planning programs into all health care settings and, most importantly, ensuring that the words that people record in their advance care plans and advance care directives are respected and acted upon when it counts. We want to increase the evidence base for advance care planning and ensure that evidence translates into better end of life health care.

We look forward to welcoming you all to a great series of plenaries, concurrent sessions and revamped workshops!

Green Gym provides regular physical exercise through fun outdoor activities where you can help the Friends of Westgate Park with:
- Planting locally native trees, shrubs and grasses
- Preparing native garden beds by spreading mulch
- Identifying and removing weeds
- Helping in the on-site native plant nursery

Join us for exercise of a different nature, have fun with your Green Gym team mates and learn how Westgate Park has become important habitat for the Black Swan, Superb Fairy Wren and Royal Spoonbill.

More information
When: 9.30am – 3.30pm, every Tuesday starting the 22nd of May
Meeting point: North Melbourne Train Station at 9.15am or Westgate Park at 9.30am
What to bring: Wear long pants, long sleeves and strong boots, and bring your lunch, a water bottle and snacks.
More information or to join: Contact Heidi – 03 9326 8250 or melbourne@cva.org.au