Speeches: 2004
Chief Executive's Address
Today marks the next phase in the development of the local government population and ageing project action plan. As you know, ALGA has been funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing to expand local government's capacity to identify and plan for the challenges of population ageing through the development of a strategic action plan.
Address to ALGA Ageing Project National Workshop
Mr Ian Chalmers
Chief Executive, Australian Local Government Association
4 May 2004: Canberra
Thank you all for accepting ALGA's invitation, and for making time in your busy schedules, to attend this workshop.
Today marks the next phase in the development of the local government population and ageing project action plan.
As you know, ALGA has been funded by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing to expand local government's capacity to identify and plan for the challenges of population ageing through the development of a strategic action plan.
In this regard, I am particularly pleased to welcome Mark Thomann, Connor Bradley, Sue Gordon and Virginia Arrowsmith from the Office for an Ageing Australia. Thank you for being here today and for your support of this most important national project.
As we're all well aware Australia, like most OECD countries, has an ageing population.
In 1911, so the Statistician tells us, there where just 64 Australians aged 100 or more.
This number remained pretty much static until the 1970's, when growth in the number of older Australians began to accelerate.
Right now, there are around 3000 hopefully happy and certainly 'alive and kicking' Australians who've hit the ton.
This number will double by 2010. And it will continue to double every 7 -10 years.
By 2020, Australia can expect to have 12,000 centenarians. Rising to 50,000 by 2050.
This inexorable trend presents both daunting challenges and real opportunities for local government.
Older people offer rich life experience, well honed skills, knowledge and wisdom, qualities significantly contribute to the social fabric of local communities.
But our ageing population will also impact on planning and service delivery. These impacts spell real and growing challenges for Australia's 700 local councils.
This change in demographics requires proactive and innovative, but also compassionate, sensitive and inclusive, policy responses from local government.
All this is well within our grasp. 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.
So where does ALGA fit in?
The need to prepare for Australia's changing demographics is one of ALGA's highest priorities.
It is the key theme of the 2003-04 State of the Regions Report.
The report contains a wealth of information on the impact of ageing and demographic changes as well as an economic planning tool to assist councils estimate the likely impacts of population change on their municipality.
ALGA is a member of National Public Health Partenrship, a collaboration of very senior Australian Government, state/territory, local government and NZ public health officials.
Our contribution involves linking relevant strategic local government initiatives with the national public health agenda. Notably, ALGA's Local Government Population and Ageing project is seen as a significant contribution to this agenda.
ALGA will also address this issue in the context of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) programs on ageing. In this respect, terms of reference have been forwarded to the Treasurer for referral to the Productivity Commission for an inquiry into the implications of the future ageing of Australia's population.
Population ageing was also a key theme of the 2003 National General Assembly of Local Government.
The highlight was the announcement by the Minister for Ageing, the Hon Julie Bishop MP of a partnership between her department and the ALGA to help councils meet the opportunities and challenges of an ageing population.
The key element of the partnership is the development of an action plan.
The aim of the plan is to set the strategic direction for local government in responding to the opportunities and challenges of an older Australia.
The strategic action plan will be a resource supporting improved understanding of the issues. It will identify and facilitate the sharing of leading practice in local government planning and service delivery to meet the needs of older Australians.
To guide the development of the action plan, a discussion paper - An Older Australia: Identifying Areas for Local Government Action - was released in March 2004.
The discussion paper was widely distributed and the submissions received will inform the development of the action plan.
It is now time to move to the next phase - scoping the action plan.
ALGA has convened this workshop to provide an opportunity for you to provide input into the development of the plan.
We want to draw on the knowledge and expertise in this room, but most importantly, we need your practical ideas about how to move this agenda forward.
This is a critical time for local government in the development of ageing policy.
Effective planning for demographic change requires an inter-disciplinary approach within local government, co-ordination with other levels of government, and the establishment of value adding partnerships with business and community organisations.
Together, we have the opportunity to lay the foundations that will support local government, as we embrace this remarkable demographic change.
Against this background, your views on the direction of the action plan are critical. Thank you for speaking freely and openly today.
All that remains is for me to declare this workshop open for business. I wish you well in your deliberations today and look forward to Alley's report on the outcomes you agree.
Thank you
Ian Chalmers
4 May 2004
Canberra
