A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
RUDD LABOR GOVERNMENT IGNORES SENIORS' DAY
29 August, 2008
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North Queensland based Senator, Ian Macdonald, has labelled the Rudd Government as slack, and not interested in Australia’s Seniors, after it emerged that the Federal Government does not appear to have any plans for the celebration of National Seniors’ Day in October this year.
“Several of my North Queensland constituents have contacted me recently regarding the absence of any information on the Rudd Government’s plans for National Seniors Day. This is usually held every year on 1 October to coincide with the International Day for Older Australians,” said Senator Macdonald.
“The website, seniors.gov.au, has not been updated since 1 September 2007, and provides no information on 2008 celebrations. My constituents tell me that their calls to the office of Labor Member for Dawson, James Bidgood, have not resulted in the provision of any information on plans for 2008 National Seniors’ Day either.
National Seniors’ Day is an important day for older Australians where functions are arranged to recognise and honour the contributions older Australians make to their families and communities,” said Senator Macdonald.
“Under the previous Government, information was made available to the public well in advance so that local communities could plan their activities to contribute to Australia’s celebration of the National Day for Older Australians. But the Rudd Government does not seem to be taking the day seriously. Only five weeks out from the usual day of celebration, no public information has been provided on official activities. This makes it impossible for local communities to plan their involvement,” he said.
“From all reports, Mr Rudd’s own office runs on a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ mentality, but most members of the community like to have some certainty about what they are doing. Seniors’ groups need to organize transport, food and drink, and make arrangements for those who are in wheelchairs, or not as mobile as they once were. This takes time, Mr Rudd.
I call on the Prime Minister, and his Minister for Ageing (Justine Elliott) to urgently publish what arrangements, if any, have been made for celebrating National Seniors’ Day, so that local communities can make plans. Our seniors are too important to be treated with such disregard.”