THE VOICE - March 2012

1 March2012 THEVOICEOFPENSIONERSANDSUPERANNUANTSOFNSW

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VOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSWPrint Post Approved PP235387100064 ISSN 10353615 March 2012

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WouldyouflogthefamilyhometoliveinaResidentialAgedCareFiretrap?

AS Federal Ageing Minister Mark Butler ponders his response to the Productivity Commission’s proposals (that people needing aged care should have to sell or reverse mortgage the family home), an audit conducted by Fire & Rescue NSW found that two-thirds of the state’s nursing homes are basically firetraps.

CPSA is arguing that all nursing homes must be fitted with sprinkler systems as soon as possible. Domain Principal, owner and operator of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home recently destroyed by fire, agrees. It is retrofitting all its nursing homes that do not currently have sprinkler systems. But some in the industry are still screaming about costs.


CPSAExecutive(as at 2.11.2011)

Grace Selway OAM CPSA President

Bob JayCPSA Secretary

Betty ChamberlainCPSA Treasurer

Bill HollandSenior Vice PresidentAssistant Treasurer

George RayVice President

Sue LatimerAssistant Secretary

Shirley BainsMargaret Craven-ScottJim GraindaMarie Mihell Colin VernonBarbara Wright

THEVOICEOF PENSIONERS AND SUPERANNUANTS OF NSW

Phone: 1800 451 488Fax: (02) 9281 9716Email: [email protected]: Amelia Christie, Antoine Mangion & 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.

LettersThe high cost of doing the right thingRecently, I contacted EnergyAustralia to see about having my hot water changed to off-peak instead of heating all the time. I am a pensioner and am trying desperately to get my energy bills down. Apparently, this is a simple job which would only take about 10 minutes to do, just changing something in the meter box. The private contractor for EnergyAustralia gave me a quote of $380 plus GST with no discount for pensioners. When I replied that they had got to be joking and that it was a rip-off, the reply was that other people are charging $430 plus GST. This is nothing other than a blatant rip-off. We are told to use less energy and when that is attempted, we’re slugged an outrageous fee like this. Electricity should never have been sold off in the first place and I dearly hope

Mr O’Farrell sticks to his guns and refuses to privatise the poles and line. It would mean not being able to use electricity at all – it is almost that way now. I have no idea how the Government expects people to be able to pay these horrendous energy bills. I hope, but don’t expect, the Government to do something about this disgraceful situation.

Gillian M StoreyEnfield, NSW

Making ends meet on the Age PensionI am aged 81. I am in receipt of a Centrelink Age Pension and the following is conceived from that premise. It is, I feel, little understood that we Age Pensioners are the most financially disadvantaged members of our society. Not many, if any, older Age Pensioners can supplement their meagre pension by working. Most

of us eventually reach the stage when we simply cannot physically work, whereas those who are able and willing to do so, are simply not wanted by the vast majority of employers. It would seem that experience counts for nothing these days! Has it ever occurred to anyone that tax cuts do absolutely nothing to help Pensioners? In actual fact, when tax cuts occur, the opposite frequently happens: retailers, realising that those in work will have larger disposable incomes, will most likely put prices up! (Incidentally, this also happens whenever Pensioners actually receive an increase!) Another point that needs to be raised is the fact that the cost of living in different states and territories varies enormously, and there should be some acknowledgement of this by varying the Pension accordingly. My suggestion

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.

March2012 www.cpsa.org.au 1800451488 3

would be to pay pensions as ‘State’ pensions, i.e. the Pension should be based on the cost of essential items in each state separately. We are constantly being told via the media how economically sound we are in Australia compared with the rest of the world, and tax cuts have been happening for the employed on a regular basis. If we are that wealthy as a nation, then why not give some real and meaningful increases to the forgotten Age Pensioners? May I suggest that at the very least, we base the Age Pension on the minimum wage? Has it ever been considered that the only way that many Age Pensioners do manage to exist under the current system is due to the fact that they receive substantial financial help and other support from relatives? The ones who really suffer are those of us who have no children, grandchildren and so forth, from whom we can obtain help. I personally fall into that category. I cannot afford a car (and if I did own one, I could not afford to run it). I have not had a holiday for more than a decade. I cannot afford visits to concerts or other outings. I cannot afford the high cost of various health specialists that my GP used to feel necessary. The huge increases in electricity and gas costs mean that I need to cut back on heating and

cooling and one must factor the enormous increases in the costs of essential foodstuffs. I live a pretty austere life on my Age Pension. Pensions should be raised to reasonable levels. We should be treated like valued members of society, not like people who should merely be tolerated. In a rich country such as ours, we make no real effort to give Age Pensioners a reasonable life as they enter their final years. Many of us live in social isolation, simply because we have no real choice. It is obscene that in Australia today, many are paid absurdly high salaries and chief executives being paid bonuses running into the millions, yet Age Pensioners have to go without so many things. Something is radically wrong!

Vic BaylissKambah, ACT

On smart metersYOUR article ‘Smart meters add to electricity costs’ (THE VOICE Dec-Jan) was excellent but we would like to add an extra cost to your listing. We pay a daily service charge for having electricity, which we presume includes the meter even though we cannot read it to ascertain how much power we are using. When we were first changed to the new meters in September 2009, the daily

charge was 32 cents a day. This fee went up to 42 cents a day and since July 2011 has been 59 cents a day - an increase of nearly 85% in two years. The increase was presented as a ‘new’ way of charging. We now have a ‘Powersmart’ home.

Bill ByrneStrathfield, NSW

Issues worth fighting forI write as a CPSA Member in response to some of your campaigns and Member’s letters. Congratulations! We need to pull together. I now live in ‘regional’ NSW. Sadly, I came here from Sydney over 15 years ago to retire, or so I thought. Like many, I have experienced ill health and stress mainly because of others’ greed, governments’ greed and the high cost of living. They don’t seem to care. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Why are we left in the middle to struggle and survive? I have felt increasing costs in Coucil rates, insurance, electricity and health. What a sad laugh it is that private dentists are not under Medicare and don’t bulk bill. I have tried to over 14 years with letters to the Government and local members of parliament about this much needed issue. Action is urgently needed for pensioners who are financially disadvantaged.

Edwina E du CasséNambucca Heads, NSW

Letters

By post: By email:THE VOICE, CPSA [email protected] 9, 28 Foveaux StSurry Hills NSW 2010

You must include your name and suburb/town for the letter to be published, though these may be omitted in publication if the letter contains personal information. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

SendalettertoTHEVOICECPSA - 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.

CPSA has been running the ‘No Flogging the Family Home for a Nursing Home’ campaign since the release of the Productivity Commission’s Report last year. Your CPSA has been conducting a rigorous campaign to encourage Branches to let the Government know we are strongly opposed to the proposals in the Report. If your Branch Members are like mine, they have been sending postcards to your local Federal Member along with signed petitions and letters to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. I have been contacting Branches asking them to arrange a meeting with their local Federal Member to spell out our main concerns. I have been delighted to learn that several Branches have already met their Local Member face-to-face and found a sympathetic ear. I’m told that other Federal Members have been non-committal, offering an excuse that they need to find out the Government’s proposal first. Incidentally, that is what my Local Member’s office had told us, though a face-to-face meeting has been agreed. My message to all CPSA Members is that this is the issue we have to win.

Bob JayCPSA Secretary

A Message from the Executive


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Garden of RemembranceCPSA Head Office notes with sadness the passing of Bernie Mortimer on 18 November 2011. Bernie was an active member of several policy committees, and will be much missed for his sense of humour. Our thoughts are with his family.

Guildford Branch is saddened to note the passing of Branch Life Member Ron Wheeler, just after his 102nd birthday. He was a Member for over 40 years, and Assistant Secretary for many. He helped in the sewing room and was a well-liked, well-loved Member.

~ 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 also entitled to receive a copy. If you would like a copy, please call Head Office on 1800 451 488.

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.

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CPSA has replaced the President, Secretary and Treas-urer badges with Branch President, Branch Secretary and Branch Treasurer badges. Your existing badge will be re-placed free of charge by posting the badge to Head Office and requesting a replacement.


AS Federal Ageing Minister Mark Butler ponders his response to the Productivity Commission’s proposals (that people needing aged care should have to sell or reverse mortgage the family home), an audit conducted by Fire & Rescue NSW found that two-thirds of the state’s nursing homes are basically fire traps. They have no sprinkler systems. In Victoria they are mandatory. Queensland has just made them mandatory. Fire & Rescue NSW made a “reconstruction video” of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire. They set up two rooms identical in fit-out to the room at the Quakers Hill nursing home, where the main fire started. A fire was lit in both rooms. In one room the fire consumed and melted everything in twenty minutes. The temperature in the room reached almost 1,100 degrees Celsius and discharged deadly superheated gases. That room was an exact replica of the room at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home: there were no sprinklers. The other room, also an exact replica, had a single sprinkler head.

The fire did damage to a bed but was extinguished by the single sprinkler head in about 20 minutes. Temperature in the room reached 75 degrees Celsius at ceiling level. The video was shown to a room full of people at a Nursing Home Fire Safety Consultative Forum. Two NSW Government Ministers and their staff were present. There was a large contingent of aged care providers as well as Government bureaucrats. CPSA was there, as was The Aged-care Rights Service (TARS) as representatives of people who actually have to live in places where their safety is effectively traded off against dollars. Who was also there was the Fire & Rescue NSW Commissioner, Greg Mullins. Mr Mullins did not leave anyone present in any doubt. A sprinkler system at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home would have saved lives. Having a sprinkler system in every nursing home, said Mr Mullins, was regarded as essential by fire and rescue services in the UK and the US. Mr Mullins’ view was that NSW should make sprinkler systems mandatory. Generally speaking, aged

care providers in NSW have seen the writing on the wall. With both Victoria and Queensland moving towards mandatory sprinkler systems, it is very unlikely that NSW will not follow suit. The Domain Principal Group, owner and operator of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home, has announced that all its nursing homes currently without a sprinkler system will be retrofitted. CPSA has welcomed Domain Principal’s decision to retrofit non-sprinklered nursing homes with life-saving fire sprinkler systems. Better late than never. Domain Principal’s decision, however, has interesting implications for other aged care providers in NSW who still run non-sprinklered nursing homes. Domain Principal’s decision means that the largest for-profit nursing home operator in Australia now acknowledges and accepts that fire sprinkler systems in nursing homes are indispensable. Domain Principal’s decision also highlights that the nursing home industry is able to afford essential and life-saving fire sprinkler systems without assistance. It obviously makes

business sense. Insurance implications alone probably justify this decision from a financial point of view. It would lower building insurance premiums and insurance premiums for compensation payments to residents or residents’ relatives in the event of injury or death through fire. Already some people in the aged care industry have begun the familiar chant for financial assistance, pointing out that they are a struggling industry. CPSA’s view is that, for an industry supposedly on the verge of collapse, there are surprisingly few cases where administrators are called in or where providers actually go bankrupt. Those operators still opposing fire sprinkler systems in nursing homes should change their tune or get out of the industry. CPSA has called on all nursing home operators in Australia to retrofit unsprinklered homes regardless of what local fire regulations require. CPSA has also called on the NSW Government to make fire sprinkler systems mandatory in existing nursing homes and similar buildings without any further delay.

ResidentialAgedCareFiretraps

Friend FocusSyd Doleman had a long history of service. He served his country (“Empire”, back then) as a submariner in the British Navy in WWII. He served the poor through his dedicated volunteer work with the poverty-stricken Cuban people for many, many years. On retirement, he became an active Member of Kogarah - Kogarah West CPSA and St George Area Council, where he worked for pensioners, superannuants and low-income retirees in southern Sydney for many

years. He joined the CPSA Executive as Acting Secretary in 1993. He followed that with a year as Vice President, then a mammoth effort as Editor of THE VOICE for twelve years. When drafting his will with the Public Trustee, he reflected on the many years of service to his fellow-citizens, and the benefits CPSA had fought for (and won) for them. He decided to give something back to the Members, and made a bequest in his will. Making a bequest is easy, doesn’t cost you anything, and helps us ensure that there’s a CPSA for the

future generations of people just like you. It can be as small or as large as you like. If you would like to make a bequest to CPSA, please contact Kate or Nikki on 1800 451 488.

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Private Health Insurance rebate means test set to pass with dental sweetener

THE AUSTRALIAN Government has passed one of its major policy objectives with the Greens supporting Labor’s means test for the private health insurance rebate, in return for $165 million for dental services for low-income households. The Government also needed the support of at least two other crossbenchers, and that came from independents Rob Oakeshott and Andrew Wilkie. The rebate means test should be seen as a major step to improving equality in health services. The rebate currently costs the budget nearly $5 billion annually. The means test is expected to improve the budget bottom line by $2.4 billion over three years. The means test will only affect high-income earners with private health insurance cover: the rebate will be reduced for singles earning more than $80,000 a year and families on more than $160,000 a year. It cuts out completely for singles earning more than $124,000 a year and families on more than $248,000 a year. Pensioners and superannuants on up to $80,000 a year (single) or $160,000 a year (couples) with private health insurance coverage will still receive the higher rebates of 35% (65-69 years) and 40% (70 years and over). The Government has long sought to means test the private health insurance rebate but did not previously have the necessary numbers in the Senate. The Greens had threatened to withhold their support for

the means test if nothing had been done for dental care and if the Medicare levy surcharge for high-income earners without private health insurance was not abolished. It seems, however, that the Government has been able to convince them that the surcharge was a necessary stick to prevent high-income earners from dropping their insurance when the rebate means test takes effect. The Greens have settled for $165 million additional funding for public dental services. It is expected that the funding will be provided to the State and Territory Government schemes. The reality is that $165 million will only top up an ailing system and is far from adequate for the dental care reforms truly needed. Greens health spokesman Senator Richard Di Natale said the party viewed the funding as a “down-payment” for further investment in dental care in the May Budget and for a future universal dental scheme. “It’s not enough, more needs to be done,” he said. “We’re very aware that there needs to be a significant investment in dental care.”

More on dental care

MEANWHILE, consumer groups and health advocates are waiting for the Australian and NSW Governments to release recommendations made by their respective advisory bodies on dental health. The NSW Dental Health Taskforce was established to develop a plan to reduce dental waiting times and address public dentistry workforce shortages. It reported towards the end of last year. At the time of writing,

the National Advisory Council on Dental Health was expected to present a draft report to the Australian Government shortly. As reported in the Dec 2011-Jan 2012 edition of THE VOICE, the Council is understood to be in support of maintaining the current Chronic Disease Dental Scheme, with the possibility of means-testing eligibility. Both the Australian and NSW Governments, however, have not promised to make public the recommendations they receive.

Taking Multiple Medicines Can Do More Harm than Good

MORE and more seniors are using medicines to promote health and prevent illness rather than just to treat symptoms or disease. This means older people are very likely to be taking multiple medicines. A national survey of Australians aged 50 and over found that on the day of the survey, 87% of those over 50 took some form of medication, with two thirds of people over 75 taking five or more medications that day. Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the survey shows that almost half of the survey participants reported taking complementary, non-prescription medicines. The results reveal that older Australians are increasingly mixing medicines without consulting their doctor or pharmacist. It seems sensible to be taking medicines to ward off illness, but being aware of the side effects or possible interactions between prescribed medicines and complementary medicines is important.

Dr Marie Pirotta from the University of Melbourne states that “while this trend towards preventative medicines may have a long-term positive impact on health and quality of life, it also highlights the importance of the ongoing promotion of healthy lifestyle changes.” The study found that doctors recommended 79% of all medicines taken, with about one in eight medicines being recommended by family, friends or the media. One in eight medicines purchased by over 50s was not purchased from pharmacies but from a supermarket, health food store or the internet. “These results highlight the need for people to be medicine-wise and have access to the right information to make better choices and decisions about medicines,” National Prescribing Service CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said. When international comparisons are made, Australia has a high use of some medicine classes, including cholesterol-lowering drugs, most of this use is likely to be appropriate, according to Dr Weekes. Yet others have warned of dangers of taking too many medications at once, particularly if the interactions between them are unknown. Research from the University of Auckland, found that people taking two or more prescription drugs could be twice as likely to fall over, regardless of their age. Professor David Le Coureur, president of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists said that while much of the increased medicine use was warranted because it preserved the health of the aged, he commented

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that “being middle aged or old is becoming a medical diagnosis.” CPSA’s Health Promotion Service for Older People has more information about medication management. Ring 1800 451 488 or go to www.cpsa.org.au

VisionCare suspension reveals NSW Government’s budget myopia

ONLY a few months ago the O’Farrell Government ended the public housing rent freeze that benefited so many Age Pensioners. At the time, THE VOICE expressed its concern about this action. Now, Minister Pru Goward has suspended the VisionCare NSW program for four months, because it has run out of funds for the financial year. According to Minister Goward, VisionCare has not kept within its budget for over 10 years. Arguably, given the tight eligibility criteria and the tight policing of those criteria, as well as the low average cost of service delivery, the program

has been chronically underfunded all that time. A more realistic response would be to increase the program’s funding. This suspension puts at risk the health and wellbeing of thousands of disadvantaged NSW residents. Many recipients of the program’s spectacles are elderly and now face deteriorating vision and falls because they will be unable to afford the cost of a pair of glasses. Only those on the full rate of Pension or Allowance with basically no other income or assets are eligible, due to the strict and low means test. If you’ve saved for any emergency, such as your fridge breaking down, you’re ineligible. These eligibility criteria have remained in place since the program’s inception in 1992. In other words, it’s been 20 years with no increase to the means test. Not even CPI. If the Government wants to show that they are tough when it comes to economic management, it is poor form that they picked this program.

The cost of the whole program, even at the highest level of expenditure in 2010/11 of $6 million, is loose change for a state the size of NSW. The VisionCare NSW program is super-efficient in terms of service delivery and targeting. It helps the truly destitute and it is outrageous that the NSW Government should suspend it for an entirely predictable budget overrun.

Backdown on petrol ban

NSW PREMIER Barry O’Farrell has announced that the ban on regular unleaded petrol (ULP), forcing ULP to be replaced by 10 per cent ethanol blend (E10), has been dropped. This might give some VOICE readers a little relief at the pump. We say might because, while the ban has been lifted, the NSW mandate for 6% of all fuel sold to be ethanol is still in place. This means that it’s likely that nearly all ULP will still need to be replaced. For those whose cars cannot use E10, they will be stuck

purchasing the significantly dearer premium blends if they cannot find ULP. CPSA first reported on an impending ban on ULP in April 2010. The ban was set to come into force on 1 July 2011. The lack of enough ethanol leading up to that date compelled the then Labor Government to push the ban back a year and the Coalition Government had planned on keeping to that new schedule. However, revelations by the Sydney Morning Herald in early February seem to have forced the Government into some action. “Motorists already pay enough for petrol and I am not going to force people into buying more expensive premium petrol to run their cars,’’ Mr O’Farrell was reported to have said by the Herald. Most motorists would not have been affected by the ban. Many cars run perfectly fine on the fuel while some others consume a little more fuel than ULP which is generally offset by the cheaper price. However, a sizeable minority are not compatible, including most cars made before 1986. CPSA is concerned that pensioners and other low-income earners – who tend to drive older vehicles – will be stung by the higher prices. Motorists who can’t use E10 will be forced to pay higher fuel prices for premium petrol, and run the risk of damage if they fill up with E10 by mistake. The most important message is still clear: check your car’s compatibility before filling up. To do so call the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry on 02 6247 3811 or visit www.fcai.com.au

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Ensure you’re ready for digital or lose your TV

THE AUSTRALIAN Government is well under way with its mandatory switchover from analogue to digital TV signals. If you haven’t upgraded to a new digital TV or bought a digital set-top box by the analogue switch-off date in your area, you will lose your TV reception. On 5 June, the analogue transmission will be turned off in a number of towns in Southern and Central NSW (see the map below to work out if you’re included). Some of these areas may even switch off earlier. You may have already converted. If you can watch ABC2, ABC3 or SBS TWO, you alerady have digital TV. If not, set-top boxes allow you to continue using your current TV and cost between around $50 and $150, and there is also help for full-rate pensioners. A Household Assistance Scheme provides free

assistance to people receiving the full rate of Age, Disability Support, Carer and Veteran Pensions, who live in an area that is going to be switched over, own a working television and don’t already have access to digital signal. You are entitled to one high definition set-top box and a demonstration on how to use it; any necessary upgrades to cabling, antennae or satellite systems (though this is subject to you owning your own home) and 12 months of support and service within your home. If you are eligible you will receive a letter from Centrelink inviting you to apply. Unfortunately, you cannot be a part of the assistance scheme until 6 months before your area is up for the switchover, so you cannot enjoy the extra channels and better reception without being out of pocket. There is also a Satellite Subsidy Scheme for those who currently use a retransmission tower that is

not being converted. This will cost households a whopping $220 and the Government will pay the rest. To find out about how this will affect you and to learn when your suburb is switching off call 1800 556 443 or go to www.australia.gov.au/digitalready.

Mobility Scooter Safety Survey

THE NRMA, ACCC, CHOICE, EnableNSW and Vision Australia have joined forces, launching a national survey to tackle scooter safety. The latest figures reveal that as many as 700 people are hospitalised each year in Australia after accidents on motorised scooters. There have been over 60 fatalities over the last decade. Fractures and injuries to lower limbs are the most common scooter injuries reported. But while there are plenty of stats on the nasties of scooters, less is known about

how they benefit people on a daily basis. The objective of the survey is to help understand how and why Australians are using mobility scooters and the results will be used to work out ways to make them safer. As Sarah Court, the commissioner of consumer watchdog, the ACCC stated, “The aim of the survey is to provide more information about how people are buying and using mobility scooters and what training they also receive.” For VOICE readers who are interested in participating, the survey is open until 5 April 2012 and is available from the Product Safety Australia website at www.productsafety.gov.au/mobilityscooters, or by phoning the ACCC’s Infocentre on 1300 302 502.

The Transport Infoline - 131 500

THE TRANSPORT Infoline – 131 500 – is intended to provide people with the information they need to plan an efficient and successful public transport journey in NSW. Calling 131 500 gives you transport service information for trains, buses and ferries in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area (including Newcastle and the Central Coast, Wollongong and the Illawarra). By calling 131 500 public transport users can speak to operators to answer any transport queries. There is also automated information for timetables, service changes, trackwork and transport to events. Calls can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Calls are at the cost of a local call from landlines. You can also access all

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this information online at www.131500.com.au or www.131500.info CPSA would like to know if you have ever used 131 500. Was it helpful and easy to use? Or did you find any difficulties? If you’ve never used the service, did you even know it existed? We’d like to hear of your experience. Call CPSA Head Office on 1800 451 488.

Work Bonus Not Working

IN the May 2011 issue of THE VOICE, an article headlined Work Bonus or Work Penalty? appeared. Unfortunately, this article contains an error as Bob Burns from Berwick, Victoria, has pointed out. THE VOICE thanks Bob and apologises to readers for the mistake. The May 2011 article erroneously states in an example of an accountant who has a Work Bonus bank that s/he receives credit for the Income Free Area at the same time as receiving benefits from their Work Bonus bank. However, the way the Work Bonus bank works is that you receive no credit for the Income Free Area until your Work Bonus bank is exhausted. Using a couple with no private investment income as an example, the working person has a Work Bonus bank of, say, $1,500 and earns, say, $800 during a one-off fortnight. The Work Bonus bank is reduced by $800 to $700. Then credit of $250 is added to the Work Bonus bank for that fortnight’s Work Bonus entitlement. The Work Bonus bank then stands at $1,050. What should have happened, and what most people think that happens (but doesn’t), is that this

working person’s Income Free Area is brought into the calculation. If the $264 Income Free Area had been applied to the $800 income first, and if then the Work Bonus bank had been applied against it, the balance in the Work Bonus bank would have been $1,214. Clearly, this pensioner couple has been cheated out of $164 over that fortnight. This arrangement most disadvantages pensioners without private investment income, while it doesn’t disadvantage pensioners with private investment income equal to or above the Income Free Area. For pensioners with lower or no private investment income, there are two ways of not being caught out. One is to have a steady income of $500 or more a fortnight continuously. The other is to arrange to be paid on a one-off basis in a single fortnight. CPSA will certainly pursue this issue with the Government and other Federal parliamentarians. The details of how Work Bonus and the Work Bonus bank work can be found in the Social Security Guide ( w w w. f a h c s i a . g o v. a u /guides_acts/ssg/ssguide-3/

ssguide-3.1/ssguide-3.1.14/ssguide-3.1.14.30.html).

Enhanced rights for residents of residential parks – here’s hoping

FOR many years, people living in residential parks have been fighting for improvements to the Residential Parks Act to provide greater protection against excessive rent increases, harassment from park owners and improved security of tenure, to name a few. At last the Residential Parks Act is under review. In November 2011, Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts released a discussion paper ‘Improving the governance of residential parks’. One of the options put forward in the discussion paper is to reverse the onus of proof in disputed rent increase matters. This would mean the park operator would have to prove to the Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal that the operating costs of the park had increased by such an extent that an increase in rent was warranted. This would mean a much fairer process for residents. Other options (such as fining residents for breaching

park rules) are quite outrageous and, if adopted, could lead to increased hardship for residents. Reviews such as this present a fairly rare opportunity for residents, residents’ groups and advocacy services to have their say about how parks legislation can be improved. However, as with all legislative reviews, there is a risk of losing some hard-won gains from earlier reviews. If we all put forward our arguments clearly and concisely, beneficial change may be achieved. The Residential Parks Act is consumer protection legislation and its purpose is to provide legislative protection for residents, not park operators. Let’s hope the NSW Liberal and National Government remembers that when they are making amendments. However, we need to keep in mind that all stakeholders, including park owners and the park industry association, will be trying just as hard to have changes implemented that benefit them, not park residents. For more information contact CPSA’s Park and Village Service on 1800 177 688.

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

Carriage Marriage

A man and a woman, who had never met before, found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on an overnight train.

Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, the two retired and fell asleep quickly, he on the upper bunk and she on the lower.

At 1:00 a.m., he leans over and gently wakes the woman saying, “I’m sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the cupboard to get me a second blanket? I’m awfully cold.”

“I have a better idea,” she replies. “Just for tonight, let’s pretend that we’re married.”

“Wow! That’s a great idea!!” he exclaims.

“Good,” she replies. “Get your own blanket!”

Fishy Business

Patty was sitting in her back yard digging a hole to bury her dead goldfish. Mrs Johnson, who lived next door, was watching her over the fence.

Mrs. Johnson said, “Patty, what are you doing?”

Patty said, “I’m digging a hole to bury my dead goldfish.”

Mrs. Johnson said, “Patty, don’t you think that hole is a little big for a goldfish?”

Patty said, “No...it’s inside your cat!”

A successful diet is the triumph of mind over platter.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

Without geometry, life is pointless.

Reading whilst sunbathing makes you well-red.

A prisoner’s favorite punctuation mark is the full stop. It marks the end of his sentence.

I used to be a banker but I lost interest.

Documents

THE VOICE - March 2012