THE VOICE - October 2011

1 October2011 THEVOICEOFPENSIONERSANDSUPERANNUANTSOFNSW

THE

VOICECelebrating80yearsofservice

OF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSWPrint Post Approved PP235387100064 ISSN 10353615 October 2011

Against the background of run-away increases in electricity, gas and water charges, the NSW Government has ended the exemption of the 2009 one-off $30 pension increase from the public housing rent calculation.

From April 2012, single full rate pensioner tenants will be paying $23.80 more out of their fortnightly pension payment than they do now, while that pension payment will be $35.30 higher. This means that two-thirds of the September 2011 and March 2012 pension indexation increases will be swallowed up by rent increases.

The 2009 pension increase was supposed to help improve the standard of living of single full rate pensioners, subsisting (at the time) on incomes that put them below the poverty line. The Federal Government granted this increase on the

understanding that State and Territory Governments would permanently exempt it from social housing rent calculations.

The circumstances of those living on just the pension, particularly single pensioners, have again deteriorated to the point where they cannot afford the basics, and utility, electricity and other energy charges are to blame.

While CPI indicates the overall cost of living has risen by 7 per cent since the September 2009 pension increase, the electricity component of the CPI went up 17 per cent, rates went up 15 per cent and gas 12 per cent. The NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal calculated that, by June 2013, the price of electricity bill increases for low users will have risen by 36 per cent for Energy Australia customers.

Within that context, for a Government to back out of a social housing rental exemption shows a concerning lack of understanding of how single full rate pensioners are forced to live. The NSW Government stands to gain less than $30 million through a measure that imposes increased hardship on pensioners living on less than $20,000 a year.

CPSA is concerned that a decision so lightly taken might be repeated in other cost-of-living cases.

CPSA calls on the NSW Government to subject cost-of-living concessions and eligibility criteria to scrutiny by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory

Tribunal.In making

recommendations on prices, the Tribunal is already required to take into account social impacts, but it does not have the authority to enquire into cost-of-living concessions or make recommendations.

As a consequence, the Tribunal makes pricing determinations under the assumption that consumers, without exception, have the ability to pay the prices set by the Tribunal. By giving the Tribunal the authority to recommend eligibility criteria and levels of cost-of-living concessions, those concessions would be likely to end up better targeted.

PUblICHOUSINgRENT

FREEzEENDS


CPSAExecutive(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

THEVOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSW

Editor: Edna KayAssistant Editor: Barbara WrightPhone: 1800 451 488Fax: (02) 9281 9716Email: [email protected]: Antoine Mangion, Joel Tozer & Paul VersteegePrinter: MPD, Unit E1, 46-62 Maddox Street, Alexandria NSW 2015

All content 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

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.

lettersCouncil rates irritateI AM rather concerned that in the last seventeen years, us old age pensioners have not had any increase in our council rates rebate.

During this period of time our rates have tripled and so has the cost of living, but we have remained the same with our little bit off the rates.

We old age pensioners are the ones that fought for our country to make it what it is, but nobody seems to worry about us anymore. With the electricity prices, rates, water and the general cost of living we have to starve just to pay the bills.

I can’t remember when we last were able to have a bite to eat while we were food shopping, or going to medical appointments and so on.

This year we won’t be able to insure our home or contents, we just can’t make the little bit of money go that

far.I can’t remember

when we last had a holiday or a movie. Something needs to be done for us oldies, because we need help.

W G CampbellWerris Creek, NSW

My wife and I are both on a full pension; I have an allocated pension from which I draw approximately $600.00 per month.

We keep & follow a budget which I have made up in an Excel spreadsheet.All bills are entered when received and date due entered.

All amounts are automatically calculated to a weekly amount.

We have done this for many years and it has worked well. I carried out a check of all cost over four years, from July 2007 till June 2011, the results for the main utilities and council are as follows:.

Council rates up 12.87%Water rates up 41.67%Gas up 51.72%Electricity up 72.17%PENSION up 21.17%

I ask you, how are we to survive these increases when there are little or no increases to rebates, any cash payments received have been well & truly absorbed.

I am sure many pensioners like ourselves are worried sick as to where this will end.

R K McNeilNarellan Vale, NSW

Aged care cash cowPRIME MINISTER Gillard would attract support if she cancelled the legislation that would require older Australians to have to sell the family home to buy their way into those privately owned aged care homes. These homes have a bad reputation for poor care.

Providing care for people in their own homes,

Donations,bequests,MembershipandTHEVOICEsubscriptions

MembershipisopentoallwhosupporttheaimsandobjectivesofCPSA

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. I wish to make a bequest to CPSA in my Will. Please send me information.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.

October2011 www.cpsa.org.au 1800451488 3

enabling them to leave the family home to their children, as it has always been, would be the humane element of our Australian way of life.

This legislation is handing money over to millionaire operators.

Eric Di LosaPort Macquarie, NSW

Gas bills start to biteI READ with interest the increases to gas by 40% for low-end users that AGL has instituted. Gas is an area that does not accrue a Pensioner Rebate and I believe that AGL sees this as a business opportunity to force low-income pensioners to The Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul for a Hardship Voucher to help pay for their gas account. If only one could be a fly on the wall at a Board Meeting. I believe that AGL is looking for more Government funding to improve their bottom line – profits and that means greater dividends for the richer end of society at the expense of the poor. I feel it is time for the Government to legislate for a Pensioner or Low Income rate for telcos and energy suppliers, in fact for any vital organisation that either accepts funding for pensioner rebates or accepts hardship vouchers. This is not anti-competitive because there are plenty of high-end users and profitable companies to spread the costs around. All charities that accept Government funding have bells and whistles attached to that funding for accountability, and that includes child care centres and private schools. So why not energy

and telecommunication companies for low-income pensioners? Any organisation that accepts Government funding of any sort has a social responsibility.

Name and address supplied

An energy rebate is not provided to gas bills because, while everyone has an electricity account not everyone has a gas account. Hence, the full rebate is provided solely on electricity bills. Energy companies in NSW are required by law to operate customer assistance programs for those facing hardship. Not all programs are adequate and CPSA continues to work for improvements in this area as well as greater affordability so that people do not get to such a situation in the first place. Ed.

Men’s sheds turn men’s health aroundWOMEN have always shown a greater interest in health issues than men.About five to six years ago, the Men’s Shed movement started up as a registered Health Promotion Charity.

Problems with men’s health such as isolation, loneliness, depression and other health issues are helped greatly with men’s sheds.

It is uniquely Australian where men are sharing and preserving the skills they have that are relevant to the community.

I for one worked alone for years in my garage restoring furniture until four years ago when I joined a new Men’s Shed at Kincumber, and now I work with wood turners, carpenters and professional retired furniture restorers.

Now we are nearing Christmas, we are very busy making toys for local charities.

There are now 560 men’s sheds in Australia, growing at a rate of four a week, with membership of over 50,000 men.

We are now exporting the concept to Canada, UK and Ireland.

What’s the best thing about Men’s Sheds?

“IT IS BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BUY.”

Charles Lindstrom, Kincumber Men’s Shed

Helping pensioners balance their budgetsBALANCING the household budget can be tricky when you’re on a fixed income, and we know that pensioners face particular pressures in making ends meet.

We also value the contribution pensioners have made – and continue to make in retirement – in our communities.

That’s why, in September 2009, the Australian Government introduced pension reforms to catch pensioners up.

We wanted to make sure that the Age Pension keeps pace with the cost of living into the future.

Since we introduced the reforms in September 2009, we have delivered increases to the maximum pension of about $148 per fortnight for singles and $146 per fortnight for couples combined.

From 20 September, single people receiving the maximum rate of Age Pension and veterans’ income support recipients will receive an extra $19.50 a fortnight.

Pensioner couples combined on the maximum rate will receive an extra $29.60 a fortnight.

Jenny Macklin MPMinister for Families, Housing, Community

Services and Indigenous Affairs

Canberra, ACT

letters

THE VOICE, CPSA Level 9, 28 Foveaux StSurry Hills NSW 2010

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CPSA - who we are

CPSA was founded in 1931 in response to pension cuts.

CPSA is a non-profit, non-party-political membership association which serves pensioners of all ages, superannuants and low-income retirees. The aim of CPSA is to improve the standard of living and well-being of its Members and constituents.


Members’page

Crosswordby Hilda Thorburn

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Donations

CPSA is grateful for all donations. Due to lack of space, the following only includes donations above $35 received since the last VOICE:R. Edouard-Betsy $50.00P. Lenton $100.00Lismore CPSA $150.00NSW Retired Teachers Association $200.00Shoalhaven Heads CPSA $949.93

Across 1. Inadvertent 8. Extremism 9. Works dough10. Surpassed11. Garden hut12. ... it, obvious to me (2,1,3)14. Reprimand17. Add up to (6,2)20. Statelier23. ...-a-brac, knick knacks24. Tormented25. Capital of Rwanda26. Rugby players are often seen ... (2,1,5)27. Impossible

Answers on back page

Down

1. Marks over some German vowels 2. The hay was stacked ... (2,5) 3. Valency of 3 (Chem.) 4. Collector of coins & medals 5. Aggravated 6. Danish composer, also a poll 7. Paying guests13. Artificial language15. France’s highest mountain (4,5)16. Queasy18. Cocktail19. Unfasten21. Young wild animal (4,3)22. Put to death24. Currency unit of Oman

CPSA MerchandiseBadgesMembership : pin $4.50Membership: magnet $4.50Title Bar* + pendant $9.00Title Bar* $5.00Pendant $4.00(*except Welfare Officer $10.15Asst Soc. Sec.) $16.15CardsMembership card $0.10Waratah card $1.00

Card wallet $3.30Certificate (80/90 years/Appreciation) $1.10Emergency medical information book $2.00Leather key ring $5.50Letter opener: silver or gold $10.00Sticker: no marketers no salespeople $1.00Tea caddy spoon $4.40

Please add postage to all items.

Garden of Remembrance

Yagoona CPSA is sad to report the 17 August passing of Member William Robertson. His funeral was on 22 August. He will be sadly missed.

~Rest in Peace ~

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 entitled to receive a copy. If you would like a copy and do not currently receive one, please call Head Office on 1800 451 488 and we will add your name to the distribution list.

Volunteer insurance

Despite ongoing frustrations with the Head Office volunteer insurance provider, especially their recent four-fold increases in premiums to some Branches, they provide the most affordable policy we can find that does not reduce or cancel the payout if volunteers are over a certain age.

For several years, Head Office has continued to advocate for volunteer insurance to cover Branch Members. The insurer is now providing volunteer insurance at around $100 per Branch for up to seven Branch volunteers working at one time.

We recognise that this may still prove too expensive for some Branches but we have not yet found a better alternative. Contact Nikki at Head Office on 1800 451 488 for more information.

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.


Barry and Mike’s first Budget

THE NSW Budget handed down on 6 September included some big health and public transport measures that will benefit pensioners along with the rest of the community, but also some penny-pinching nasties that will hurt pensioners specifically or significantly.

The next Budget is only nine months away, in June 2012, when the O’Farrell Government’s honeymoon will be well and truly over. CPSA is already working on its submission to that Budget.

1. Health and careIn the current term of Government there will be:• 2,400 additional nurses

(940 before July 2012)• 1,400 new hospital beds

(660 before July 2012)• 13,000 extra surgical

procedures (1,600 before July 2012)

In addition, mental health funding will grow by almost 9 per cent.

Oral health is again the loser, with no additional funding.

The Home and Community Care Program will receive an additional 6.5 per cent (or $42 million) in funding, with the Home Care Service of NSW treading water.

Disability equipment programs received an additional $5 million.

2. Public transportThe Budget also promises:• 261 new buses• $100 million to expand

light rail services• Continued work on the

South-West rail link• Start of work on the

North-West rail link• Study into North Coast

rail services• Free shuttle buses for

the Sydney, Parramatta, Penrith and Wollongong CBDs.

3. Social housing rent freeze for pensioners endsWhen the single full rate pension went up by $30 a week in September 2009, the Federal Government asked State and Territory Governments to permanently exempt this increase from social housing rent calculations. In NSW, tenants pay 25 per cent of assessable income in rent.

Most State and Territory Governments put in place a temporary exemption and a few have since moved to make this permanent.

The base rate of pension has gone up in September by $9.05 per week. That increase will go into the rent calculation from October 2011 and cause a rent increase of $2.25 per week. At the same time, half the 2009 pension increase of $30 per week will go into the rent calculation, which will cause a rent increase of 25 per cent of $15, being $3.75. The overall October rent increase will be $6 per week.

The projected (not definite) pension increase in March 2012 is $8.60 per week, which will lead to a rent increase of $2.15 per week in April 2012. The second half of the 2009 pension increase will now also go into the rent calculation, so that the overall weekly rent increase in April 2012 will be $5.90.

In total, single full rate pensioner tenants will be paying $11.90 more per week in rent by April 2012, or $23.80 more out of their fortnightly pension payment, while that pension payment will be $35.30 higher.

This means that two-thirds of pension increases will be swallowed up by rent increases and will not be available to help pay for price rises for water and electricity.

4. Solar hitThe NSW solar panel scheme essentially forced electricity retail companies to buy their electricity not at wholesale but at retail prices. It’s a bit like Coles and Woolies buying their stuff at the same prices they charge their customers. It’s a loss-making activity and, in the case of electricity retailers, they will recoup those losses by charging more to those customers who do not have solar panels.

The cost of the NSW solar panel scheme, initially thought to be $355 million, has since blown out to $1.75 billion and the annual electricity bill of those who don’t have solar panels is expected to increase by around ten to twelve dollars per household on average.

While this is a small sum, it’s galling that all those panel-less households, including pensioner households on extremely low incomes, now have to pay for a scheme in which not everybody has the capacity to participate, especially full rate pensioners in social housing.

IPART considers new solar feed-in tariff

RECENTLY, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) received submissions to evaluate the possibility of a new feed-in tariff for households that install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in NSW.

Many may remember that the initial Solar Bonus Scheme feed-in tariff was

cancelled earlier this year after its expected budget had blown out considerably, thanks to the initial generous tariff of 60c and a very high take-up rate.

There has been a strong misconception that the beneficiaries of the NSW solar feed-in tariff so far have been affluent households in Sydney.

However, the Clean Energy Council’s break-down of small-scale photo-voltaic (PV) installations by postcode shows that regional and coastal areas, many of which have lower income levels, have higher rates of PV installations.

The benefits of the system have not solely gone to high-income earners; they have generally been spread.

However, CPSA did not support the arrangements that were in place for the Solar Bonus Scheme tariff to be paid, wholly or in part, through household energy bills.

Cross-subsidisation within a charging regime is regressive and disadvantages those who cannot afford to install PV systems and who often already struggle with high energy bills. It also disadvantages non-homeowners.

In dealing with the legacy of generous feed-in tariff schemes in which cross-subsidisation is inherent, CPSA believes it would be more equitable to pay costs from consolidated revenue.

In general, CPSA believes that the decision of a household to install a solar PV system should be made on the basis of non-subsidised feed-in tariffs. This means that households should receive the going, wholesale rate for their excess electricity at the time it is fed back into the

CPSACampaigns

Continued page 8


CPSAMemberbenefit


CPSAAnnualConference

CPSA Conference and Annual General Meeting

CPSA Conference (including the Annual General Meeting) is coming up again! It will be held at the Salvation Army, 140 Elizabeth St, Sydney on 25 & 26 October 2011. The deadline for agenda items was Friday 26 August 2011.

Every Member is invited (and encouraged) to attend Conference as an Observer. (A Delegate is able to speak and vote on motions. An Observer is not able to speak or vote on motions.) You will be able to hear our guest speakers, listen to policy discussion and be present for our AGM. You will be able to meet with other Members from all over NSW. Meals and refreshments are included and transport by CountryLink rail and bus services is free for all non-Sydney Conference attendees. (In addition, Delegates’ accommodation can be reimbursed up to $110 per person per night.) Registration forms have been circulated to all Branches, Area Councils and Affiliates. If you would like to register as an Observer, please contact CPSA Head Office on 1800 451 488.

Conference Delegates must be chosen by the Branch, Area Council or Affiliate to represent that group. Most Branches do this by a simple ballot at a Branch meeting. Everyone who is interested in going to Conference should nominate. Don’t let your Branch Executive or Committee decide this for you!

The number of Delegates a Branch can send depends on the number of Branch Members: 1 - 75 Members = 2 Delegates 76 -125 Members = 3 Delegates126 -175 Members = 4 Delegates176 -225 Members = 5 Delegates etc.

Are you interested in coming to Conference as a Delegate but don’t belong to a Branch, or haven’t been elected as a Delegate for your Branch? Why not consider representing another Branch instead? Lots of our Branches find the distance too great or Members’ health not up to the travel. Many of them would be delighted to have someone represent them. If you’re interested in representing another Branch, call Head Office for more information. There is no cost to your home Branch and costs to your other Branch are kept to a minimum.

AccessingCityRailguide

Accessing CityRail is a 76-page guide to CityRail stations for the elderly, customers with disabilities and people travelling with young children and luggage.

The latest edition is now available and includes updated information about the accessible facilities of our stations and trains, interchanging with other modes of transport, using wheelchairs and scooters and accessible station entrances. It also contains useful information about using the boarding assistance zone and travelling with assistance animals.

The information in Accessing CityRail is also available in PDF, large print, Braille and audio formats.

To receive a copy of Accessing CityRail, please contact Eliz Esteban on phone: 8922 4439 or email: [email protected]. Eliz will also be able to provide Accessing CityRail information in the other formats if you need them.


grid, plus an environmental benefit premium to reflect the value of generating electricity in an environmentally sustainable way. Any such premium should be funded transparently through a social program as part of the NSW budget process.

Scoped in or out: aged care complainants remain likely losers

EVEN though a new aged care complaints scheme started on 1 September 2011, CPSA did not break out the champagne. The new scheme will prove to be as hopeless as the one it replaces and here is why.

Complaints against aged care providers number in the thousands. During 2009-2010, there were 8,055 complaints that were determined to be “in scope”.

For a complaint to be “in scope” it must relate “to an approved provider’s responsibilities”. A complaint can also be “out of scope”, in which case complainants are

referred to another agency, provided with information or simply told that no one can help them. During 2009-2010 this happened 5,111 times.

Although the Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act 1997 does not say how many of these 5,111 “contacts” were told no one could help them, it not unreasonable to assume it was the vast majority.

If it wasn’t the majority, the Report would have said so.

Plus, you only have to look at what happened with the “contacts” that were “in scope.”

Of the 8,055 “in scope” complaints, only 931 turned out to relate to breaches.

That is roughly one in ten. All the other complaints, all 7,119 of them, were made, apparently, by idiots.

So the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme has had, to put it mildly, a bias towards dismissing complaints, whether they are “out of scope” or “in scope.”

However, there was one complainant who was

extraordinarily successful and very much on the ball and on the money.

It was the Aged Care Commissioner, who reviewed 114 decisions on “in scope” complaints.

The Commissioner’s recommendations in virtually all 114 cases were adopted by the same people who tell one in ten “in scope” complainants to go away.

So the Aged Care Investigations Scheme also has a bias towards taking the Commissioner far more seriously than complainants.

But the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme (which started in 2007) is no more.

It had the same fate as the Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme (which started in 1997).

It has been replaced by the Aged Care Complaints Scheme, which, according to a chirpy article supplied to THE VOICE by the Department, “means greater information and support for people to resolve their concern directly with the provider, where appropriate.

The new Scheme’s

focus on resolution, along with expanded resolution approaches means the Scheme is more likely to resolve a person’s concern and achieve the best result for the care recipient.”

If this sounds to you like the old Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme that was canned in 2007, you can be forgiven.

But here’s why the new scheme is as doomed as its predecessors.

While it will now be possible for anyone to make a complaint, including nursing home staff, and while it will be possible to make anonymous complaints, the terms under which the complaints are made don’t change.

The old scheme limits complaints to “a matter involving an approved provider’s responsibilities under the Act or Principles”. So does the new scheme, which limits complaints to “an issue or issues about an approved provider’s responsibilities under the Act or the Principles”.

The criteria used to decide whether a complaint is “in scope” have not altered.

CPSACampaignsFrom page 5


So, for example, if you make a complaint because your mother who is in a nursing home has infected gums, that complaint would probably be considered “in scope”, but it would not be considered a breach as long as the aged care provider could prove that she was not prevented from going to the dentist. No matter what complaints system the Department runs, it will fail as long as “approved provider’s responsibilities” are as narrowly defined in the legislation as they are today. Until the aged care system is run for care recipients instead of providers, any complaints system will be largely meaningless. CPSA still encourages everyone to air their complaints. The sheer number of complaints demonstrates how inadequate aged care, particularly the nursing home side, is and this helps in our advocacy. The Scheme can be contacted on 1800 550 552. If you have a hearing, sight or speech impairment, the Scheme can help through

the National Relay Service. Call 1800 555 677 and ask for 1800 550 552. If you need an interpreter, the Scheme can assist through the Translating and Interpreting Service. Call 131 450 and ask for 1800 550 552. You can also write to the Scheme at: Aged Care Complaints Scheme, Department of Health and Ageing, GPO Box 9848, in your capital city. You can also contact the Scheme through their website at www.agedcarecomplaints.govspace.gov.au

IPTAAS allowances up, but problems remain

WHEN the NSW Government increases a benefit, it would be very churlish of CPSA to say that it is not enough and that it doesn’t resolve the problem. So when the Health Minister announced an increase of 30 per cent in the accommodation allowance under the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Scheme

(IPTAAS), CPSA welcomes that in acknowledgement of the Government’s good intentions. But at the same time, an accommodation allowance going up $10 to $43 for singles and $14 to $60 for couples (when overnight accommodation is priced at $100 and up) does not remove the significant barrier for many country people to receive medical treatment in towns and cities. Financially, country people needing specialist medical treatment are already having to cope with upfront medical fees and gaps not covered by their health insurance, if they can afford insurance in the first place. Adding to those financial burdens a couple of hundred dollars minimum for every day in town to cover the cost of a hotel or motel, meals and transport can make it impossible for people to seek the medical treatment they need or impossible to get enough of it. Already cancer survival rates in the country are significantly lower than they are in the city.

The NSW Government is busily honouring its election commitments and increasing IPTAAS benefits was one of those commitments. The danger now is that the Government will forget about IPTAAS. That is why it is a shame that the changes to IPTAAS do not include the introduction of an indexation mechanism to ensure travel and accommodation allowances keep pace with the actual cost of accommodation and petrol. CPSA would like to see percentage-based assistance of 75 per cent provided under IPTAAS, so that as prices go up and down so do the allowances. CPSA would also like to see addressed the problem of country people needing to advance the full accommodation and petrol charges and receiving their IPTAAS allowances much later. A system whereby people eligible for IPTAAS allowances are able to pay part of their accommodation and petrol charges with vouchers would make

CPSACampaigns

My Health, My Future, My Choice: An Advance Care Directive for New South Wales

Do you want to have a say in what happens to you if you need health care treatment and cannot speak for yourself? Every day, families, friends and medical professionals are faced with difficult decisions about the health care of seriously ill or injured people. These decisions are especially hard when the person is unable to communicate their health and personal care choices.

My Health, My Future, My Choice is a book that explains what people can do to make sure their health and personal care choices will be known in the future. It is easy-to-read and is set out like a workbook with sections for the reader’s notes.

The book contains a four-page advance care directive form. The form has been designed to make it as simple as possible for people to record their choices about their health and personal care. The book and the form have been written for use in New South Wales and are relevant to adults of all ages.

My Health, My Future, My Choice costs $12 plus $2 postage and handling. To purchase the book, call 0423 157 003, download the order form from www.advancecaredirectives.org.au or email [email protected]

The book is authored by Sara Graham, Anne Hampshire, Elizabeth Hindmarsh, Barbara Squires and Sharon Wall of the Advance Care Directive Association Inc.

The authors have experience in and expert knowledge of aged care, health, general practice, nursing, education and community welfare.


the health system more accessible for low-income country pensioners. The changes to IPTAAS take effect on 1 January 2012. There is no change to the eligibility criteria, which means that travel and accommodation assistance under IPTAAS continues to be available to people needing to travel at least 100 kilometres one way for specialist medical treatment. As mentioned, the daily accommodation allowance increases to $43 per single person and to $60 per double, up from $33 per single and $46 per double. The car travel allowance increases to 19 cents per kilometre, up from 15 cents. Those country pensioners lucky enough to have family or friends in town will be eligible for a weekly accommodation allowance of $140, up from $30 per week. Any patient travelling at least 200 kilometres in one week will also be able to claim IPTAAS subsidies. Once a patient’s IPTAAS subsidies reach $1,000 within a year, the $40 administration fee will be waived.

Aussie prescriptions among world’s most expensiveAUSTRALIA is one of the world’s most expensive countries when it comes to prescription medicines, a study shows. The findings were included in a study by researchers at The University of Western Australia who looked at the annual out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs across 14 OECD countries in 2005, when the most complete data

was available. Australia ranked fourth among the 14 OECD nations with universal pharmaceutical subsidy schemes, with patients paying an average $US84 a year for their prescriptions. People in Finland faced the highest costs at $US120, followed by the French ($US103) and those in the Slovak Republic ($US95). But for those in the United States and Canada - neither of which have universal subsidy schemes - the out-of-pocket expenses were a staggering $US487 and $US262, respectively. Lead researcher Dr Anna Kemp, of the university’s Centre for Health Services Research, said if prescription charges in Australia increased much more, they would become unaffordable for many, putting their health at risk. “We understand this

is a massive area of health expenditure and everyone is trying to work out what the community can afford and what patients can afford, but we are worried that the balance has tipped now to the point that its hurting patients,” she told AAP. “What we would like to see is the government not introduce more large increases in costs for patients. “We understand that things need to move with inflation but any large increases in (the PBS) co-payment or safety net are likely to result in harm for patients and make them likely to cut down on their use and we already know that has been happening for some people.” Medication costs leapt 24 per cent in 2005 when the Federal Government increased the amount patients paid for their prescriptions at the pharmacy under the PBS co-payment scheme.

Since 2005, the co-payment general patients have to make towards their PBS-subsidised prescriptions has risen by $5.60 to $34.20 and by $1 to $5.60 for concession card holders. The Government has also raised the spending thresholds people have to meet before they qualify for extra discounts. Previous studies have found a drop in the use of prescription drugs following price hikes. Dr Kemp said Australians could be paying even more for their prescription drugs because of a rise in the number of medications — including antibiotics, antidepressants and oral contraceptives — which no longer qualify for PBS subsidies. When taking those medications into account, Australians were paying at least $134 a year for their prescriptions, she said.

CPSACampaigns


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 Pension(02) 9521 79641300 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 Federal 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 TribunalFinancial management orders

for people with decision-making disabilities

1800 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

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 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 200 422

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

Medicare Enhanced Primary Care Dental Scheme

Call Medicare for details132 011

People with DisabilitiesAdvice for people with a

disability(02) 9370 31001800 422 016

Exit AustraliaInformation about euthanasia

1300 103 948

Dying with Dignity NSW(02) 9212 4782

Australian Men’s Shed

Association 1300 550 009

HOUSINg

CPSA’s Older Persons Tenants’ Service (OPTS)

Individual advocacy(02) 9566 11201800 13 13 10

CPSA’s Park and Village Service (PAVS)

Individual advocacy for caravan parks and

manufactured homes villages(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

referrals(02) 9926 03001800 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

CPSAInformationDirectory


Giggle Page

CrosswordSolutionsCrosswordonpage4

Ummm....

Come back tomorrowTurn left when walking

Lessons in logicA bus station is where a bus stops.A train station is where a train stops.On my desk, I have a work station….What more can I say?

The more you learn, the more you know,The more you know, the more you forgetThe more you forget, the less you knowSo… Why learn?

“Your future depends on your dreams.” So, go to sleep.

Since light travels faster than sound,People appear bright until you hear them speak.

If your father is a poor man,It is your fate but,If your father-in-law is a poor man,It’s your stupidity.

Practice makes perfect…But nobody’s perfect…So why practice?

Things to ponderI used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

If quitters never win, and winners never quit, then who is the fool who said, “Quit while you’re ahead”?

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the internet and they won’t bother you for weeks.

Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?

LimerickMe and my newest mate, RingoWent to the church to play bingoThe priest said: “Oh dearHe’s not allowed here”I replied: “Why? What’s wrong with a dingo?”

Got a joke?

Well we’re on the look-out, so send it in. We may not be able to post everything we receive but we certainly appreciate all conributions.

Send it in to THE VOICE CPSA, Level 9, 28 Foveaux St Surry Hills, NSW, 2010 or [email protected]

THE VOICE - October 2011

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Transcript of THE VOICE - October 2011