ALGA, Bishop launch Ageing Action Plan
27 July 2004
An action plan to assist Australia's 675 councils plan for demographic change has been launched today by the President of the Australian Local Government Association, Councillor Mike Montgomery, and Federal Minister for Ageing, Ms Julie Bishop, at the Ballina Shire Council in New South Wales.
The Australian Local Government Population Ageing Action Plan has been developed as part of a partnership on ageing issues between ALGA and the Australian Government.
The plan provides a framework in which local government can address the ageing issues that affect local communities. It is designed to provide a flexible and dynamic framework that:
- builds awareness of population ageing within local government
- encourages local government action to plan for an ageing population
- fosters partnerships to support a more collaborative approach to population ageing
- improves access to regional information on population ageing and future demographic shifts
Within each of these priority areas, a number of practical actions have been identified, including:
- A website that promotes the Local Government Ageing Project and provides relevant information for local government.
- A toolbox that provides local government with the tools, resources and contacts to integrate ageing issues into all aspects of local government operations.
- A local government ageing network that allows subscribers to share experiences, questions and comments about ageing issues.
Cr Montgomery said the plan complemented other national ageing strategies, such as the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia and builds on the considerable work already undertaken in the states and territories and in local government.
"The challenges for Australia's 675 councils will be profound almost everywhere. But they will be particularly profound in Australia's coastal areas and lifestyle regions. It is expected that - by 2019 - one-in-eight local government areas will have at least 25% of their population aged 65 years and over.
"ALGA's current State of the Regions report prepared by National Economics tells us that North Coast of New Soth Wales will continue to experience significant change. In the Richmond-Tweed region today, 27% of residents are aged 55 and over. By 2011, that will grow to 34% and by 2021, it will be 42%.
"The region will rank number four of Australia's 64 regions - just behind the New South Wales Mid-north coast - 47% - the Wide Bay-Burnett region in Queensland - 46% - and Victoria's Gippsland on 44%.
"Our ageing population will also have a substantial impact on planning and service delivery. These impacts spell real and growing challenges for Australia's 675 councils.
"This change in demographics requires proactive and innovative, but also compassionate, sensitive and inclusive, policy responses from local government.
"Local government has a strong commitment to community strengthening, and the ongoing needs of older Australians fall squarely within this agenda.
"The next step for local government is ours to chart. We need to plan and prepare for demographic change now, through careful and determined policy.
"To help build the capacity of local government to meet the specific opportunities and challenges of an ageing population, ALGA has developed the Population Ageing Action Plan to cover a five year period between now and 2008.
"This plan is the result of the partnership between ALGA and the Australian Government to engage local government in a planned and coordinated national approach to population ageing issues.
"We look forward to developing the partnership on ageing issues with the Australian Government to help local government do what it does best - respond to local needs,Ó Cr Montgomery said.
