Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) according to the latest figures from the Department of Social Services, there are more than 330,000 people aged between 45 and 65 on Newstart,

  (ii) age discrimination in the workplace is happening to people as young as 45,

  (iii) the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research found that 18% of workers aged between 55 and 64 believe their organisation discriminates on the basis of age in recruitment and selection, and

  (iv) older people, especially women, are increasingly retiring in poverty;

(b) acknowledges that ageism limits choice, drives poorer outcomes and undermines rights for older people in crucial areas affecting wellbeing including employment and healthcare; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) immediately raise the rate of Newstart and related payments by a significant amount to ensure people aren't ageing into poverty; and

  (ii) address the underlying issue of ageism that contributes to the discrimination, abuse and neglect of older Australians.

Question agreed to.