THE VOICE - Dec 2010-Jan 2011

1 Dec 2010 - Jan 2011 THE VOICE OF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSW

THE

VOICEWinner of the 2009 Older People Speak Out Media Award - Seniors’ Newsletters

OF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSWPrint Post Approved PP235387100064 ISSN 10353615 Dec 2010 - Jan 2011

ENERGY PRICES UPCOMPLAINTS SOAR

CPSA wishes everyone Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year!

The way things are going, nothing’s off limits

THERE has been a dramatic increase in the number of complaints about energy and water utilities in NSW. Data released by the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) shows that the number of complaints about energy and water utilities has risen 43 per cent.

Complaints about energy retailers increased from 8,889 in 2008/2009 to 12,987 in 2009/2010 - a staggering 46 per cent. These figures throwinto question the NSW Government’s decision to privatise energy retailers and deregulate pricing.

If complaints are increasing while there is Government oversight and regulation what will happen once these protections for consumers are removed? How many more people will be badly affected? Victoria presents the litmus test.

Complaints made about Victoria’s energy retailers rose by 264 per cent following the privatisation of the energy market in the state. In 2008/2009 there were nearly 35,000 complaints, up from 13,179 in 2006/2007.

The privatisation and deregulation of energy

in Victoria has resulted in manipulative and misleading marketing strategies; poorer customer service and customer assistance when people had difficulty paying their bills;and more disputed accounts.

In NSW, sale of the retailers is supposed to increase competition in the sector.

However, sources close to the sale, as revealed in The Australian Financial Review (17/11/2010), reported that only three bids were made for the three state-owned retailers, Energy Australia, Country Energy and Integral Energy.

The three bidders are reportedly AGL, TRUenergy and Origin, which, if they end up winning the contracts, will reduce the number of retailers in NSW from six to three.

So much for increased competition. And, as analysts have implied, with lower competition, lighter regulation, and increased market share, the three bidders stand to make a killing.

Governments, in the pursuit of a fast dollar, have seemingly forgotten that energy is an essential service to which everybody should have affordable access.


CPSA Executive(as at 2.11.2010)

Grace Selway OAM PresidentBob JaySecretaryBetty ChamberlainTreasurerBill HollandSenior Vice PresidentAssistant TreasurerSue LatimerVice PresidentMargaret Craven-ScottAssistant SecretaryEdna KayPublications EditorBarbara WrightAssistant Publications EditorShirley BainsMarie Mihell George RayColin Vernon

THE VOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSW

Editor: Edna KayAssistant Editor: Barbara WrightPhone: (02) 9281 3588Fax: (02) 9281 9716Email: [email protected]: Charmaine Crowe & Antoine MangionPrinter: MPD, Unit E1, 46-62 Maddox Street, Alexandria 2015All content prepared by the editorial and production team with reference to stories on AAP newswire, unless indicated.THE VOICECPSA, Level 9, 28 Foveaux StSurry Hils NSW 2010

Disclaimer

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.

LettersRising energy prices an insult to customersI SEE the notification ofincreasing power prices as an insult, as you can read for yourself.

The following is a letter I sent to the General Manager of Origin Energy. “Dear General Manager

Many thanks for letting me know that the power price, as expected, is going up again. When the next increase is due, please do not bother writing to me again because I see it as an insult. While you carry big money home in your suitcase, others are getting cut off from power and have to suffer.

I do know there is a kind of expression going around in the business world which support ripping people off with a smile – it’s no crime as long as it’s legalised by the government.

And you and other power companies take full advantage of it due

to an incompetent NSW Government which has failed to keep up the modernisation of power plants.

Does one not say that when two people (in this case voters and the Government) have differences, the third person involved comes out of it laughing?

And your power company is laughing all the way to the bank while the rest of the world could not give a hoot about polluting the air. Makes a lot of sense to me!

Yours sincerely, no rustic clown,”

Herbert EderAbbotsford, NSW

Rising costs and impossible bulk buys OVER many years, the prices of 1 litre Dulux products has risen, e.g. ten years ago at $27.00, now we have Weathershield (white) at $41.90. Recently while in a Bunnings store, an elderly woman asked me for advice

on what paint to buy to paint a very small fence which her son had built for her, concrete and timber, total cost $30.00. She was shocked when the cost of Weathershield was explained and she could not afford it. This incident highlights the on-going problem of the outrageous cost for 1 litre of paint which is so unfair to the consumer. While Weathershield is $41.90 for 1 litre, a 4 litre tin of the same product is $74.50, or $18.50 a litre. Same with Dulux Wash n Wear (white): a 1 litre tin cost $36.71 while a 4 litre tin is $63.90 or $16.00 a litre. I have asked Dulux Australia to explain this outrageous cost to me and other consumers, particularly to pensioners and retirees, yet to date I have not received a response. I now have no loyalty to Dulux, which is likely to be taken over by

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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.

Dec 2010 - Jan 2011 THE VOICE ONLINE: www.cpsa.org.au 3

American interests, despite me having been a Retail and Trade representative for the company for more than 16years.

Charles LindstromSaratoga, NSW

Silence is not golden for nursing home resident welfareTHANK YOU, Maureen Ballantine for discussing the lack of care in nursing homes (November 2010).

Where does the buck stop, who is responsible for feeding clients and giving them a drink? Surely someone knows who is supposed to feed these helpless souls.

Where does one lodge a complaint? They must come under review and be answerable to someone. Don’t walk away, complain to the right authority. That’s the problem, everyone turns a blind eye.

Good on you Maureen.Edith Doherty

Davistown, NSW

To lodge a complaint about the mistreatment of an aged care recipient contact the Complaints Investigation Scheme on 1800 550 552. Ed.

Digital pain renders no political gain

I live in the suburb of Ascot, which is pretty much the Brisbane inner city. While I can get digital TV on the main antenna which is boosted, the other two TVs in the house that use small antennas cannot, even though one is boosted.

I’m not sure if anyone has stopped to think of how many hundreds of thousands of people, especially those who are renting, have to use the ‘rabbit’s ears’ type of antennas.Theyworkfineon analogue TV which the

Government will soon switch off, literally getting up the noses of thousands of people unless something is done to provide a decent signal.

I hope this will be addressed, because there is nothing that renters or pensioners (who can’t afford installations) can do about their digital TV reception if they have to rely on rabbits ears. No TV = No Votes

Simon EvansAscot, Queensland

A word of thanksLAST month, I was taken to the tribunal by government housing. I am a single pensioner who has lived over 30 years in my home. I was issued with a letter telling me that I was to remove my security screens that I had had put on my home over 18 years ago.

I was given the contact for OPTS and CPSA and I cannot thank the staff enough as they helped resolve a very distressing issue for me, even coming to the hearing with me. Thank you so much. I am so relieved that my security screens can stay as they are my security and peace of mind.

Wendy HallDoonside, NSW

A Scrap Heap Challenge for the GovernmentWHAT the devil are we doing throwing experienced people onto the poverty scrap heap? How about a mandatory percentage of government job vacancies going to mature-aged applicants? Is this too radical? Can we even get an interview? Truthful resumes reveal years of experience and thus, likely age and because ageism far outstrips the old bugbear ‘sexism’ nowadays, many competent people become dependants

upon welfare and health budgets instead of retaining their health and dignity by contributing with their own income tax. We’d hear a lot less complaint about the ‘cost’ of seniors! Let’s make it mandatory for banks and all major employers to follow Twiggy Forrest’s example. Let’s mandate for every government department to set the pace and lead as they do on other discriminatory issues. Income versus expenditure for the public purse. A win-win situation all round. Wouldn’t there be many votes in that?

Pamela DunsfordPotts Point, NSW

Fairer ways to collect FSLI WRITE with regards to the October VOICE article The Fire Service Levy. The levy should be collected by the local or city council yearly with the other services which they already provide. This way all the households will be paying, not only the insure households. This is a more equitable situation. We will then have more money than enough to givetothefireserviceandisa much easier way to do it. I can’t see the insurance companies making every household to pay otherwise.

Victor BorgGladesville, NSW

Disability Support Pensioners able to access low-cost internet

THE COMPANY that recently took over a not-for-profit internet serviceprovider for Disability Support and Age Pensioners have changed their policy to allow new customers who are on a Disability Support Pension and under the age of 55 to access the service. CPSA contacted the company ONESeniors shortly after they had taken over TADAust Connect because the company limited access to their internet and phone services to people aged 55 and over. CPSA considered this to be unfair, because TADAust Connect by Technical Aid for the Disabled (ACT) to provide an affordable internet service for pensioners, to bridge the communication gap. ONESeniors claimed that they had changed their policy because they were not able to verify if a new customer was in receipt of a Disability Support Pension, and therefore they imposed an age based eligibility criterion instead. CPSA argued that a Pension Concession Card includes payment information on it, and that would be a way to determine if someone was in receipt of the Disability Support Pension or not. T h a n k f u l l y , ONESeniors has adopted this recommendation. New customers under the age of 55 must show proof of their Pensioner Concession Card to access the service. This can be done either online at www.oneseniors.com.au or by telephoning ONESeniors on 1300 735 439.

Letters

By mail to:THE VOICE, CPSALevel 9, 28 Foveaux StSurry Hills NSW 2010

or by email to [email protected]

You must include your name and suburb or town for the letter to be published. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Send a letter to THE VOICE


Members’ page

Crossword by Hilda Thorburn

THE e-VOICE is available to view on the internet at www.cpsa.org.au/evoice.html

DonationsCPSA is grateful for all donations. Due to lack of space, the following only includes donations above $35.

M. Blanch $38.00Nowra CPSA $4,308.80

Across 1. Offensive 8. Opportunities 9. Russian dictator10. Stomach pains (5,5)11. Welsh emblem12. Stage whispers14. Miscellaneous articles17. Outdoor (2,6) dining, eg20. Die of hunger23. Deprived of feeling24. Improvement25. Swim-suit26. Tidiness27. What type of hat did the farmer own (2,3,1,7)

Answers on back page

Down

1. Subjugate 2. Rattled 3. Solicits 4. The pupils were interested ...(excursions) (2, 6-7) 5. Snouts 6. Writing system for the blind 7. Obvious13. Treatment to produce test tube babes (abbrev.)15. Despondent16. Neither ...18. Oafish19. Nonsense, garbage21. Nuts22. Deer flesh24. Erect

CPSA Merchandise

BadgesMembership $ 3.60Title Bar* + pendant $ 9.00Title Bar $5.00Pendant $ 4.00(*except Welfare Officer $ 10.15Asst Soc. Sec.) $16.15CardsMembership $0.10Waratah card $1.00Card wallet $3.30Certificate (80/90 years/Appreciation) $1.10Emergency medical information book $2.00Leather key ring $5.50Letter opener: silver or gold $10.00Tea caddy spoon $4.40

Garden of Remembrance

Miss Margaret Burns, long-time Member of Nyngan CPSA has passed away. She regularly attended meetings and loved her carpet bowls. Margaret will be sadly missed.

Shoalhaven Heads Branch’s dearest Member, Joan Lucas, will be sadly missed by all, for her cheery greetings each week. Ignoring the pain she felt, Joan always had a smile and a good word for everyone. God bless, Joan.

Neville Starr was a Member of Guildford CPSA for over 30 years. He will be sadly missed.

NILS® NSWwww.nilsnsw.org.au

No Interest Loans Scheme

NILS® is a community managed small loan program developed by the Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service designed to assist low income people, i.e., receiving income

support from Cenrelink. Loans for approximately $1,000 are for new essential household items, medical goods and services.

NILS® now has a Freecall service funded by NSW Fair Trading:

1800 509 994Please phone 9:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday except public holidays for information/eligibility/schemes in your local area. Unfortunately, as yet, there is not a scheme in every town or suburb of NSW.

NILS® is not for emergency relief, bond or rent, living expenses or debt repayment. For help with credit & debt difficulties, please call the Credit & Debt Hotline: Freecall 1800 808 488.

CPSA Merchandise

Good news! CPSA now has new Life Member badges. Association Life Members (awarded at Conference each year) will receive Association Life Member title bars. Similarly, Branch Life Members will receive Branch Life Member badges. If you are a Life Member, please send your Life Member badge to CPSA Head Office with your name and address and we will replace it with a new Association Life Member or Branch Life Member badge for free.

Prices at the badge company have increased, so if you are ordering badges, please note the new price of $5 for the title bar and $4 for the pendant (a total of $9).


Conference 2010

CPSA’s 79th Annual Conference, held at the Salvation Army Congress Hall in Sydney on 26 and 27 October, was a resounding success. The Conference enjoyed a great turnout with many familiar faces joining new ones who we hope will return next year. Attendees worked hard on policy matters, but this didn’t mean there was no time for enjoyment, with wonderful tea breaks, lunches and the social function after the first day. CPSA was fortunate enough to have NSW Minister for Ageing, Disability Services, Volunteering and Youth, Peter Primrose, speak at Conference. Minister Primrose spoke positively of the need for his portfolio to be involved in the decision-making process in other portfolios such as transport and health. Minister Primrose presesnted a Life Membership Award to Betty Chamberlain and in absentia to Harry Crase, Grace Newick, Phyllis Southwell and Betty Kircher. Two new awards were also presented at this year’s Conference. The Silver Bough Award is awarded to Members with 25 years service as a Branch volunteer. This year’s recipients were Hazel Betts, Dorothy Blacker, Beryl Clark, Violet Griffiths, Kath Lamb, Win McRae, Faylande Reay, Joan Swan and Gwen Waddington. The Golden Bough Award is awarded to Members with 25 years service as Branch and/or Area Council Executives. Shirley

Anderson, Ida Lilllian Blake, Connie Drover, Decima Edis, Mary Eastlake, John Reay, Athold Ryan, Edna Stevenson and Ida Sharpe were this year’s recipients. CPSA would like to congratulate all award recipients.

Conference speakers

Joel Pringle, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)

JOEL is a Policy O f f i c e r with PIAC, working on the Energy

and Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program (EWCAP).

EWCAP’s work includes taking on energy privatisation in NSW; advocating for energy-efficiency for low income households and advocating against and researching the impacts of disconnections.

Joel said that while the number of disconnections from supply of electricity and gas has reduced, the numbers have remained constant over the last two years and are still too high. Around 950 households are disconnected in NSW every week.

Those being disconnected tend to be on low incomes including pensioners, unemployed, sole parents and people with a mental illness.

More worryingly, Joel said there was a large percentage of people receiving regular medical treatment and people requiring energy for medical equipment who were also being disconnected.

People needing medical equipment to live need a constant energy supply to run that equipment and,

by law, they should never be disconnected from supply.

PIAC’s research showed that those being disconnected were usually finding it difficult to make ends meet. Many had difficulty paying rent, their mortgage or another debt. Others had recently lost work, or their bills were unusually high.

PIAC is concerned that privatisation will consolidate the market and therefore limit competition. This is because only a few companies are likely to buy the government retailers.

Privatisation will lead to increased door-to-door marketing which involves targeting vulnerable consumers who are unaware of what is being sold to them and of their rights. Retailers use third-party companies to do the marketing and this way there is less accountability.

This has been the experience in Victoria where energy has been privatised and deregulated for over two years now.

Linda Sparrow, Aged Care Crisis

LINDA spoke to Conference about why we should make life worth

living in nursing homes. She asked why we, as

a community, place so little value on the frail, old life and the end of life experience. Linda discussed how society does not view frail, old age as a life well lived. With importance placed on independence, health and success, this only serves to remind people of what they wish to avoid. She also highlighted ageist rhetoric commonly used in society, which further devalues people in nursing

homes, as well as the fanciful interest to use robots to deliver aged care. Linda asked why it was that with so many consultative bodies, agencies and advisory committees; rarely does one include people who live in nursing homes or their family members. She spoke on the very important issue of staffing and its central role in the current Productivity Commission inquiry. So many inquiries have fallen by the wayside and Aged Care Crisis is hoping this one won’t have the same fate. Aged Care Crisis hears many stories of cuts to staffing. Staffing costs take up approximately 79 per cent of a nursing home’s budget and it’s the first port of call when cuts are being made. The effects of low staffing permeate every aspect of aged care. One important area is nutrition, where there aren’t enough staff to feed every resident. Another issue is the reduced skill level of staff. These days, a registered nurse is likely to be at the end of a phone rather than the end of the corridor. More and more people are entering nursing homes with complex needs and it is clear that their condition deteriorates when skill levels decline. Nurses in the industry have higher workloads and the burn-out rates are tremendous. Linda said there is great reliance on casual and agency staff.

The very people who are likely to provide empathetic care are the very ones likely to leave to find a job which rewards them for their work and is personally satisfying.

Linda concluded that this is one of our greatest moral tests – not to leave

CPSA Conference 2010


CPSA Member Benefit


ageing and dying people in social exclusion and neglect but to willingly and lovingly support those at the end of the life journey.

Bush Telegraph Campaigns

CPSA Branches around the state get up to all sorts of activities, from simple gatherings and friendly lunches to outings and great expeditions. But it’s their involvement in the local community and their interest in the issues that affect pensioners and others that make them so important. Here is just a sample of what CPSA Branches told us was important in their community through the Bush Telegraph at this year’s Annual Conference.

Manning Valley CPSAManning Valley lobbied their Federal Member Rob Oakshott MP on pensioner issues. They campaigned on the need to review couple pensions which received little increase in the

Pension Reforms and on the Pensioner Supplement which has not kept up with the rapid increase in utility prices. They continued to lobby for dental care in Medicare and in particular to maintain the existing Medicare funding for chronically ill patients.

Riverlands Area CouncilRiverlands called on Centrelink to introduce seating to be available for use by those who are waiting, similar to those supplied by the RTA. They also said that there needs to be a better system for issuing tickets to the Premier’s Concerts in both March and Christmas.

Orange CPSAOrange Branch expressed its sympathy to their friends further out west where health and hospital services are being taken away. There is no doubt that, with the new medical centre, the services in Orange will be beautiful, but that does not provide much comfort to those who can’t access them. It’s another example of the government giving with one

hand, and taking with the other.

Grenfell CPSAGrenfell Branch is concerned about the situation at Grenfell Hospital and the Multi-Purpose Service nursing home attached to it. Grenfell residents have been assured that the hospital will not close but the situation has been critical for over a year. There is no doctor visiting the hospital. Grenfell CPSA President has, and is still prepared to, write letters to the local paper about the situation.

Cooma CPSACooma’s need for better coordinated transport still remains unchanged. On some days there is a five hour gap between trains in Canberra and Cooma buses. A better, more flexible timetable for visiting Sydney specialists would be helpful to those in Cooma. One needs three days travel to Sydney for an x-ray and specialist appointment. This all costs $500 not including the medical fees;

quite a lot for pensioners. Residents must travel to Canberra for dialysis and some surgical procedures. The Australian National University has sent out some doctors in training to try rural medical practice. The result has been encouraging. Trying to attract medicos to the bush is a challenge!

Gunnedah CPSAThe major news out of Gunnedah at the moment is the construction of a new Medical centre. This is a very large project that will cater for visiting specialists and also bring more doctors to the area. This will be beneficial to a lot of Gunnedah people especially pensioners, who won’t have to face travelling long distances for appointments. The town has been inundated with coal miners and since the mines opened, house prices have nearly doubled, units are being built everywhere and the town is busy but the shops are still empty. One wonders where people do their shopping.

CPSA Conference 2010

Top, bottom left and right: President Grace Selway awards the Golden Bough Award to CPSA MembersCentre: Minister Peter Primrose awards CPSA Life Membership to CPSA Treasurer Betty Chamberlain


Calls to reform Rate Rebate growing

CPSA WAS pleased to hear of support for rate paying pensioners by a local council in the push to increase the pensioner rate rebate. CPSA has long known that local councils have been pushing the State Government to increase support to pensioners. When this gets picked up by mainstream media it’s a wonderful thing. And so it was with Nambucca Shire Council, who called on the NSW Government to increase the rate rebate which has stood at $250 for almost 20 years. Meanwhile, council rates across the state have doubled or tripled in that time. According to ABC Radio, Nambucca Council’s general manager Michael Coulter said that there are many older residents on low incomes, so the low rebate has serious consequences. “Just to give you an idea, out of our total rate assessments which is about 9000, we’ve got about 2400 assessments where we are granting pensioner concessions or rebates,” he told ABC Radio.

“So it’s quite a large proportion of our total rate assessments that are held by pensioners. Their rebates have declined in real terms since 1989.”

Councils like Nambucca would find it very difficult to fund increases to the rate rebate.

CPSA calls on the NSW Government to make an election commitment to reform the rate rebate to cover 50 per cent of rates charged and has called on the NSW Opposition to support such reform.

Aged Care Commissioner disagrees with more than 50% of the Complaints Investigation Scheme’s decisions

THE Aged Care Commissioner disagreed with the Department of Health and Ageing’s Complaints Investigation Scheme’s (CIS) decisions about aged care complaints in more than 50 per cent of cases for the 2009/10 financial year.

Complainants to the CIS can appeal to the Commissioner if they are unsatisfied with the outcome of their original complaint.

Both operate under the Minister for Ageing.

The Commissioner’s Annual Report shows that of the 114 appeals dealt with during 2009/10, the Commissioner recommended that 51 per cent of the CIS’s decisions be altered.

The Department refused to alter fully or in part 5 of the 51 decisions questioned by the Commissioner.

Still, CPSA is concerned that 50 per cent of the appeals made found fault in the CIS’s original decision.

It raises questions about the ability of the CIS.

The CIS is the first ‘independent’ point of call for consumers or providers of aged care services to make a complaint about aged care or the assessment of care services by the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.

Most appeals that go to the Commissioner are from consumers who are not satisfied with the result of the CIS’s investigations.

There continues to be one considerable flaw in the system, and that’s the Commissioner’s decisions

are not binding. The Commissioner

may find that an aged care facility did breach its responsibilities under the Aged Care Act, but the Department can say “we disagree” and the case is closed.

Appellants have only 14 days after the receipt of the CIS’s decision within which they can lodge an appeal with the Commissioner.

This means that many, who would have appealed, don’t, as they do not have enough time to compile the paperwork and evidence to make an appeal.

The Commissioner was not able to accept 21 appeals in 2009/10 because they failed to arrive at the Commissioner’s office in time.

One can bet that most of these came from consumers who were unaware of the strict timeframes.

The Commissioner stated “The reason for the ‘late’ lodgement of appeals is unclear. It could be that personal or business issues prevent people from lodging applications within the

legislative timeframe; or that people are unaware the legislation does not allow for discretion in this matter”.

CPSA called for an increase in the timeframe within which one can lodge an appeal, to 28 days. This was supported by Dr Merrylin Walton in her review of the aged care complaints system.

Dr Walton also called for the Commissioner to have determining powers, which is currently not the case. “The Commissioner herself [then Ms Rhonda Parker] told me that she thinks her office has limited impact in the current complaints scheme” (Review of the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme, October 2009).

Public housing pension clawback in limbo

THE single pension $30 clawback by the NSW Government is in limbo at the moment, after a meeting held with the Minister for Housing, Frank Terenzini, housing and pensioner stakeholders. The meeting was

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convened to hear the arguments from both sides of the debate about whether single pensioners should be able to keep the entire $30 weekly rise they received in September 2009, or whether 25 per cent of it should go to state housing authorities, in accordance with the rent-tied-to-income policy. CPSA argued that the automatic rent calculation of 25 per cent of a pensioner’s base rate of pension assumes that the pensioner then has enough to cover the cost of everything else they must purchase each week after rent. This setting of 25% reportedly originates from when lenders used to base their loans on one week’s pay in each month going toward paying off the loan. There is little evidence to show that this policy ensures low-income people have an adequate income to cover the cost of other essentials. In the UK and the Netherlands, social housing rents are charged at a market rate, and the tenant is then given payments to cover the cost. This results in housing authorities receiving a higher rental income than in Australia. It also removes any disincentives to work if the tenant can because if they earn more money, they won’t lose most, or all of it because of rent or income test taper rates, as is the case here. Indeed, some tenants in Australia are worse off if they take up work because of the loss of income or the risk of losing their home. This is because we have a tightly targeted system that allocates public housing to those most in need. Unfortunately, this

well-intentioned policy has left housing providers under-funded, and it discourages people from increasing their incomes if they are able to work. However, the extra $27 million that the NSW Government wishes to take from single pensioners in social housing is a drop in the ocean when it comes to social housing funding. In this light, it is wrong to argue that funding deficiencies will be exacerbated by quaranting the single pensioners $30 rise. The Commonwealth and State governments need to better fund social housing. Speaking of which, the Australian Government’s housing stimulus of $5.6 billion has been caught in the rain. Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib said that although the housing was on track, some construction had been delayed because of the amount of rainfall across various parts of the country. “Construction has commenced on 17,800 dwellings, and more than 5,100 dwellings have now been completed,” Minister Arbib said.

Cost of living up, thanks to water, electricity and insurance

THE latest data from the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) shows that living costs for pensioners and other income support recipients have increased by 1.0%. This was higher than the regular Consumer Price Index (CPI), which showed living costs rose by 0.7% for the same quarter (June to September).

The biggest rises were seen in the areas of utilities (2.9%), alcohol and tobacco (4.0%) finance and insurance services (3.1%) and clothing and footwear (1.4%). Offsets were seen in the areas of food (-0.6%), transportation (-1.0%) and health (-2.0%). Since 2007, when the PBLCI was first compiled, it has tracked higher than CPI, showing rises of 12.3% compared with CPI rises of 10.0%. It confirms what pensioners have long known that their basket of goods has become more expensive than the average household, thanks to what they purchase. It’s just a shame that pensioners have not had the benefit of the PBLCI for longer. The Pension Reform increases were viewed as a way to address the decline in the pension’s value as a result of indexation not recognising the types of products and services a pensioner primarily purchases, like utilities, healthcare and food. These costs are not necessarily offset by falls in prices in other areas such as telecommunications, home entertainment systems and petrol (many pensioners don’t have a car, or drive).

These price rises won’t be covered in pension rises until March next year of course, as indexation of pensions and other payments lags behind real increases in the cost of living. Do you know about energy payment assistance available?

CPSA often speaks to pensioners who are experiencing great difficulty paying their energy bills. Few know about the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance vouchers, otherwise known as EAPA vouchers. EAPA vouchers are funded by the NSW Government, and are available through charitable organisations such as The Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul, and they provide financial assistance to low-income householders struggling to pay their energy bills. Their value varies between $30 and $480 per bill. CPSA supports this scheme but there is room for improvement. The NSW Government announced that they will review the scheme to assess whether it’s meeting its

CPSA Campaigns


CPSA Campaignsobjectives, being helping low-income householders face the massive cost of energy. One of CPSA’s concerns is that pensioners and others on a low income don’t realise this type of assistance is available to them. The other problem is that many do not want to approach a charity for assistance, feeling that it is undignified. CPSA encourages anyone having problems paying their energy bills to approach their local provider of EAPA vouchers. However, we also understand why some people choose not to do so. The other glaring problem is that many customers are not eligible for EAPA vouchers in the first place, such as people living in a residential park. CPSA plans to work on some reforms in the area of EAPA vouchers and would like to hear from you. CPSA would like to know what you think about EAPA vouchers, and whether such assistance should be provided by charities or the NSW Government directly. CPSA would also like to hear from people who have accessed the EAPA scheme. Please call Charmaine or Antoine in the Policy

Office on (02) 9281 3588 or 1800 451 488. Alternatively, send a letter to CPSA L9/28 Foveaux St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, or email [email protected]. Please get in touch too if you would like to access an EAPA voucher, as CPSA will be able to refer you to your nearest supplier. Don’t let people tell you that the Age Pension is too expensive for governments!

NOTICED the calls for the need for future generations of retirees to save for their own retirement? Have you also noticed the swell of discussion about the fact that our population is ageing, and we must do something so as to not burden future younger generations with enormous tax bills? Well CPSA has too, and thought it was time to dispel a few myths about the ageing of the population and the need for more retirees to be ‘self-sufficient’ in their retirement. This means that rather than accessing the Age Pension, future retirees should have saved enough, primarily through superannuation so as to not need the Age Pension. What is not talked about much is the amount

spent in foregone revenue each year through tax concessions through superannuation. In the last financial year, the Australian Government spent $22 billion in foregone tax revenue via superannuation. Expenditure declined slightly from previous years, because of the impact the Global Financial Crisis had on retirement savings. The Australian Government spent $29 billion on the Age Pension in the same year. So, there is really not that great a difference between spending on the Age Pension and on superannuation. And expenditure on superannuation is set to grow, especially if the Superannuation Guarantee rises to 12% (it’s currently set at 9% of one’s income). C o m m e n t a t o r s have forecast that a 12% Superannuation Guarantee will add $8 billion per year to the superannuation bill. There is $1.l2 trillion dollars sitting in superannuation funds at the moment. However, most

people over the age of 50 heading into retirement have inadequate superannuation to retire with little more than a pension. Even then, by 2047, Treasury estimate that with the present policy settings for retirement income (superannuation guarantee at 9 per cent, and the Age Pension age remaining at 65), 80% of retirees will be in receipt of some form of the Age Pension. Startling stuff hey? The common reason for most being on an Age Pension for today’s retirees is that they did not have the benefit of superannuation when they were working. However, as the above statistic shows, even with a full working life of superannuation, most will need an Age Pension anyway. So, when politicians go out and say that superannuation is needed to lower the number of people accessing the Age Pension, tell them that most will end up doing so, and that superannuation is not a low cost option as far as the public purse goes.

Lets talk about Energy Poverty

Energy poverty is something people experience when they have inadequate access to a supply of energy. Energy poverty affects people’s day-to-day lives, impacting on their health and wellbeing.

Four short videos created by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s (PIAC) Energy + Water Consumers’ Advocacy Program (EWCAP) and posted online focus attention on energy poverty. You can access the clips at http://www.piac.asn.au/energy-poverty. They include conversations with Kevin, an energy consumer; Dr Lynne Chester, an energy researcher from the University of Sydney; and Dr Alan Morris, a sociologist from the University of NSW.

If energy poverty is something that you have experienced or feel strongly about, PIAC invites you to leave a comment on this page. EWCAP’s policy team will use your feedback to advocate for affordable and accessible energy for consumers across NSW. The page also includes a link to information about support that is available for people who are struggling to pay their energy bills.


INCOME SECURITY

CentrelinkAge Pension 13 23 00

DSP/Carer benefits 13 27 17Family Assistance 13 61 50

Welfare Rights CentreInfo on Government pensions

and other benefits9211 5300

1800 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

Financial AdvisersIndustry Fund Financial Planning 1300 138 848

Australian Taxation OfficeSuper/Lost super 13 10 20

Personal tax 13 28 61

British Pensions in Australia

Assistance in claiming the British Pension(02) 9521 79641300 308 353

RIGHTS

Australian Human Rights Commission

Complaints about discrimination and

harassment 1300 369 711

Commonwealth Ombudsman

Complaints about Federal Government departments and

agencies 1300 362 072

NSW Ombudsman’s Office Complaints about NSW Government agencies

1800 451 524

Office of the Protective Commissioner1300 360 466

Guardianship TribunalFinancial management orders

for people with decision-making disabilities

1800 463 928

Seniors Information Service13 12 44

GOODS AND SERVICE

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

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

HEALTH AND CARE

Commonwealth CareLinkInfo about aged and

community care 1800 052 222

Office of Hearing ServicesSubsidised hearing aids

1800 500 726

Dementia Helpline1800 100 500

Single-gender Ward Hotline For patients who wish

to be placed in a single-gender ward after 24hrs

hospitalisation1800 700 830

VisionCare NSWSubsidised spectacles

(02) 9344 412

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 9219 7444

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 details9391 9000

1800 639 398

Medicare Enhanced Primary Care Dental Scheme

Call Medicare for details132 011

People with DisabilitiesAdvice for people with a

disability9370 3100

1800 422 016

Exit AustraliaInformation about euthanasia

1300 103 948

Dying with Dignity NSW02 9212 4782

Australian Men’s Shed

Association 1300 550 009

HOUSING

CPSA’s Older Persons Tenants’ Service (OPTS)

Individual advocacy9566 1120

1800 131310

CPSA’s Park and Village Service (PAVS)

Individual advocacy for caravan parks and

manufactured homes villages9566 1010

1800 177 688

NSW Department of Housing

Info and applications1800 629 212

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.9281 3600

1800 424 079

Law AccessReferrals for legal help

1300 888 529

The Law SocietySolicitor and legal firm

referrals9926 0300

1800 422 713

Community Justice Centres Dispute resolution services for minor matters 9228 7455

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

CPSA Information Directory


Giggle Page

Crossword SolutionsCrossword on page 4

You thought you had it bad!

Dear Sir I am writing in response to your request for additional information. In section 3 of the accident reporting form, I put ‘poor planning’ as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust that the following details will be sufficient. I am a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident I was working alone on the roof of a new six storey building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had about 500 pounds of bricks left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which fortunately was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor. Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then I went back to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to ensure a slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in section 11 of the accident reporting form that I weigh 135 pounds. Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor I met the barrel coming down. This explains the fractured skull and broken collarbone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two-knuckles deep into the pulley.

Fortunately, by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope in spite of my pain. At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel now weighed approximately fifty pounds. I refer you again to my weight, As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles and the lacerations of my legs and lower body. The encounter with the barrel slowed enough to lessen my injuring when I fell onto the pile of bricks and fortunately, only three vertebrae were cracked. I am sorry to report, however, that as I lay on the bricks – in pain, unable to stand and watching the empty barrel six stories above me – I again lost my presence of mind and I let go of the rope!

The Christmas Diet

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all round my hips were Arnott’s choc biscuits that sneaked past my lips. Fudge brownies were stored in the freezer with care in hopes that my thighs would forget they were there.

While Mama in her girdle and I in chin straps had just settled down to sugar-borne naps. When out in the pantry there arose such a clatter I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the kitchen I flew like a flash tore open the icebox then threw up the sash. The marshmallow look of the new-fallen snow sent thoughts of a binge to my body below. When what to my wandering eyes should appear: a marzipan Santa with eight chocolate reindeer! That huge chunk of candy so luscious and slick I knew in a second that I’d wind up sick. The sweet-coated Santa, those sugared reindeer I closed my eyes tightly but still I could hear; On diets, on fasting, on weakness, on TOPS a Weight Watcher dropout from sugar detox.

My droll little mouth and my round little belly they shook when I laughed like a bowl full of jelly. I spoke not a word but went straight to my work ate all of the candy then turned with a jerk.

And laying a finger beside my heartburn I gave a quick nod toward the bedroom I turned. I eased into bed, to the heavens I cry if temptation’s removed I’ll get thin by and by.

And I mumbled again as I turned for the nightin the morning I’ll starve . . . ‘til I take that first bite.

THE VOICE - Dec 2010-Jan 2011

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