Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am very happy to rise in support of the motion before the House today moved by the member for Shortland, who has been a longstanding advocate both in her electorate and in this parliament for senior Australians, and I thank her for putting this motion today.

It is interesting to follow the member for Hughes. I feel very sorry for those constituents of Hughes whose member stood here with an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of older Australians in his electorate that are making a difference. But all he can do is look back, blame Labor and talk about the ills and myths and use the rhetoric that this government spins out time and time again. Not once did he acknowledge the enormous contribution that older Australians in the seat of Hughes make to this community. So I acknowledge them in my speech now.

I would also like to say that Seniors Week is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, including the member for Hughes, to stop and reflect on the immense and invaluable work of older Australians in our communities and to say thank you for their ongoing contribution. The theme for this year's New South Seniors Week is 'Be Inspired,' which is said to be about encouraging greater effort, enthusiasm and creativity with a focus on activities that celebrate self-expression. While I always encourage seniors to be actively engaged and involved in our community, I do challenge the assertion that seniors need to be encouraged to put in a greater effort. The data at hand certainly suggests otherwise.

In Australia, senior Australians contribute the highest number of volunteer hours of any group. This is truly remarkable when we consider that as a group senior Australians do not make up the largest demographic of volunteers. There are fewer of them, yet they work harder and longer than anyone else. Today, overall, more than six million Australians, including some 17,000 Novocastrians, volunteer each year to help make a difference in our communities. In the Newcastle and Hunter regions the monetary value of volunteer work is estimated at about $60 million in unpaid wages each year, with some 235,000 volunteer hours worked annually. As a community we are deeply indebted to the volunteers for the selfless work that they do to strengthen and build a more cohesive and inclusive society.

In Newcastle, senior volunteers tell the story of our cities rich history through their work at Fort Scratchley, the Newcastle Art Gallery, the Newcastle Museum and the Maritime Centre and, indeed, through their engagement with a number of historical societies across the region. Major events in Newcastle, like the recent AFC Asian Cup, would not have been so successful without the contribution of senior volunteers. I would like to pay tribute here to just one of the hundreds of senior volunteers from the Asian Cup, Dorene Schafferius, a constituent of mine from Adamstown Heights. Dorene first volunteered at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, nearly 60 years ago, and she has never stopped. So I think it is fair to say that volunteering is very much in Dorene's blood. Upon reflection, Dorene said back in 1956 her volunteering was 'all about the boys and adventure' but now she enjoys 'the sense of community that volunteering brings'. I thank Dorene Schafferius for her longstanding commitment to the wellbeing of our community. It is very much appreciated.

I would also like to acknowledge the important work of a terrific team of volunteers that collectively manage and maintain the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens in Heatherbrae. Last Saturday, I was fortunate to visit the gardens in Heatherbrae along with a fantastic Labor candidate for Port Stephens, Kate Washington, to lend our support to the giant garage sale which helps raise much needed funds for the gardens. The extraordinary team of senior volunteers was in full swing, and they will be backing up again tomorrow when the gardens host the mental health forum for seniors. This is a forum where visitors can learn from senior psychologists about the importance of practising techniques that lead to positive mental health, such as mindfulness and meditation, and ways to handle anxiety and depression. The contribution of volunteers is extraordinary both in a social sense and an economic sense.

What we do know about the Abbott Liberal government's proposed changes to the indexation of pensions—in spite of pre-election commitments not to do so—is that they will drive pensioners into poverty over the coming years. Recent research by ANU Economist Peter Whiteford shows the pension would drop from 28 per cent of average weekly earnings, today, to just under 16 per cent by 2055. It is little wonder that older Australians feel betrayed by the Abbott Liberal government. We can and must do better to ensure the dignity of older Australians in retirement. (Time expired)

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