❓ Ms. Quirk questions the Minister for Seniors and Volunteering about age discrimination and the lack of an older persons' employment service in WA. The Minister deflects responsibility to the Minister for Commerce and highlights government initiatives for seniors.
AnsweredQoN 914Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION — AGE
DISCRIMINATION
914. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering:
I refer to a recent report by the Equal Opportunity
Commissioner that complaints of age discrimination are increasing.
(1) Why is Western Australia the only state that does not
have an older persons' employment service?
(2) Given that
the Equal Opportunity Commission has lost significant resources, how will the
minister ensure that seniors discriminated against in job seeking can have
their cases promptly dealt with?
DISCRIMINATION
914. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering:
I refer to a recent report by the Equal Opportunity
Commissioner that complaints of age discrimination are increasing.
(1) Why is Western Australia the only state that does not
have an older persons' employment service?
(2) Given that
the Equal Opportunity Commission has lost significant resources, how will the
minister ensure that seniors discriminated against in job seeking can have
their cases promptly dealt with?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for this question. This government has been very supportive
of seniors through a raft of initiatives. Earlier this year I launched an elder
abuse hotline, and we are the only state in Australia to have done that. We
have been very supportive of seniors through many other measures. For example,
we have given carers free public transport on buses and trains. During Seniors
Week this week we have given seniors the opportunity to attend a variety of
events throughout the state. Discrimination against older people in the
workforce is more to do with the Minister for Commerce than the Equal
Opportunity Commissioner. Those workplace relations agendas come through his
portfolio, not mine. I have spoken about this many times in this house; the
population of Western Australia grew by 14 per cent in the past five years and
the population of seniors grew by 32 per cent. Seniors are becoming a big part
of the demographic of our community, and we support them. I acknowledge the
member's question. We are trying to make sure that we support seniors,
especially in their working life as they grow older and the workforce grows
older, to make sure that they have equal representation. My understanding is
that the issue to which the member refers is more to do with the Minister for
Commerce than the Minister for Seniors and Volunteering.
I thank the member for this question. This government has been very supportive
of seniors through a raft of initiatives. Earlier this year I launched an elder
abuse hotline, and we are the only state in Australia to have done that. We
have been very supportive of seniors through many other measures. For example,
we have given carers free public transport on buses and trains. During Seniors
Week this week we have given seniors the opportunity to attend a variety of
events throughout the state. Discrimination against older people in the
workforce is more to do with the Minister for Commerce than the Equal
Opportunity Commissioner. Those workplace relations agendas come through his
portfolio, not mine. I have spoken about this many times in this house; the
population of Western Australia grew by 14 per cent in the past five years and
the population of seniors grew by 32 per cent. Seniors are becoming a big part
of the demographic of our community, and we support them. I acknowledge the
member's question. We are trying to make sure that we support seniors,
especially in their working life as they grow older and the workforce grows
older, to make sure that they have equal representation. My understanding is
that the issue to which the member refers is more to do with the Minister for
Commerce than the Minister for Seniors and Volunteering.
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