Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no doubt that we Australians owe a great debt to our older citizens, our seniors. If it were not for them, our country would not be as safe, secure and prosperous as it is today.

The Sunshine Coast has long been a destination for retirees, for older Australians. Indeed, the last census showed that seniors make up approximately 40 per cent of our population. As the member for Fairfax, I need help to engage with every demographic, but particularly seniors, especially since I have not yet become one. For this reason, I have started the Fairfax seniors advisory committee. I wish to thank Carol Cashman, Lesley Cowan, John Devers, Margaret Donaldson, Bernie Treston, Graham Young and David Woodrow for joining the advisory committee.

The purpose for establishing the committee is to ensure that we can engage with seniors in a two-way dialogue to ensure that they can raise with me the issues of most importance to seniors, as well as reviewing and providing feedback on government policy. If it were not for people who so generously give of their time and advice, members like me could not do our job as well as we can.

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

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.