International Day of Older Persons

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (12:49): I move:

That this house—

(a) notes 1 October 2025 is International Day of Older Persons and is an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution to our community of the thousands of South Australians aged over 65;

(b) notes that these South Australians continue to contribute to our community through millions of hours of volunteer service and as grandparents and carers;

(c) acknowledges the increase in the number of older South Australians and that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050;

(d) celebrates that the Malinauskas Labor government has expanded free public transport and other benefits to thank our seniors and assist with their cost of living;

(e) notes that older women are one of the fastest growing populations experiencing homelessness in Australia and the state government is addressing housing insecurity; and

(f) affirms that no older person should ever be subjected to abuse, deception or scams, and encourages all South Australians to respect our seniors, especially our veterans.

On 1 October 2025, we celebrated the International Day of Older Persons—an important opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable contributions that older South Australians make to our community. Across our state, thousands of people aged 65 and over enrich our lives every single day. They are our volunteers, our mentors, our grandparents, our carers and our community leaders.

Together, older South Australians contribute millions of hours of volunteer service each year supporting charities, community groups, sporting clubs and local initiatives. Their experience, dedication and generosity are part of the very fabric that holds our communities together. As we celebrate, we also recognise that our population is ageing. Here in South Australia, the number of people aged 65 and over continues to rise, reflecting a global trend. This demographic shift presents both challenges and opportunities, and it calls for thoughtful policies that support ageing well. That is why the Malinauskas Labor government is proud to be taking meaningful action.

We have expanded free public transport for seniors, making it easier for older South Australians to stay connected, independent and active in their communities. We have also introduced and strengthened cost-of-living supports, recognising the real pressures faced by retirees and pensioners.

We also acknowledge that older women are one of the fastest growing groups experiencing homelessness in Australia. This is unacceptable, and our government is taking decisive action to address housing insecurity through investment in social housing, targeted support services and partnerships with community organisations, to ensure that every older South Australian has a safe place to call home.

Importantly, we must continue to affirm that no older person should ever be subject to abuse, deception or scams. Elder abuse in any form is a violation of trust and dignity. As a community, we have a responsibility to protect our seniors, to remain vigilant against exploitation and to ensure that respect and care are at the heart of how we treat every older person, especially our veterans who have given so much in service to our country.

On International Day of Older Persons, let us celebrate the strength, wisdom and generosity of older South Australians, and commit to policies that promote dignity, security and inclusion, and may we all show our respect and gratitude to the older people who continue to shape our state for the better. I commend this motion to the house.

Ms PRATT (Frome) (12:54): I wish to speak on the motion on behalf of the opposition, where today the house notes that 1 October 2025 is International Day of Older Persons, and it is an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution to our community of the thousands of South Australians aged over 65. We will also note that these South Australians continue to contribute to our community through millions of hours of volunteer service and as grandparents and carers.

We will also acknowledge the increase in the number of older South Australians and that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide is projected to more than double, rising from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050. We know, when we reflect just on statistics that come from the Retirement Living Council, that in fact what Australia is facing is a silver tsunami. We should embrace that because there is so much wisdom and expertise and maturity that comes with those in our population whom we recognise as seniors.

I think it is certainly very important that as we reflect on those people—and there are many of us in that category, or approaching that demographic—we know that a friendly phrase to capture some people still in that category is the 'sandwich generation', where you may still be raising children at home but you have an eye on your elderly parents and you may have responsibilities there for them.

We note in the motion that has been brought by the member for Gibson that volunteering is a very big component for a population that has in many ways earned its stripes, served their term, if you like, and yet are the bulk of the population who continue to put their hand up or stay in their role as volunteers because there is no-one obviously coming behind them.

I think country MPs are no different from our city counterparts and that is we, as local MPs, are connected closely and embedded in our community, connected to those progress associations, charity groups and volunteer committees where we see time and time again it is the same people. It is the same people who have taken on the role of president or chair, presiding member, secretary/treasurer and formed those executive bodies.

I am really pleased that in speaking to this motion I can take an opportunity to reflect on a state and a national body that really does the heavy lifting when it comes to advocacy for our ageing, elderly population, and that is the Council on the Ageing. I want to offer a special shout-out to President Anne Edwards AO of the Council on the Ageing, and especially Miranda Starkey, the CEO, whom I have had the pleasure to interact with on many occasions.

I see the work that she does in advocating for a generation of people who do not always have a voice. They may be rural and remote, they may be part of the LGBTQI community, they may be First Nations, or they may be in a position of vulnerability and really not be able to advocate for themselves, and COTA, as it is affectionately known, certainly goes above and beyond. I see the role that they play in the regions that I represent and how it is connected to older persons ageing well in place and living well.

As we come to the end of our session this afternoon on this topic, I want to also reflect on a service that I am seeing offered in my electorate of Frome—soon to be called Ngadjuri—and that is residential aged-care homes. I reference, in particular, Walara and the reform that has come in offering accommodation because of the work that they have done under Malcolm May and Robert Veitch. We are particularly lucky to see Hamley Bridge, Balaklava, Riverton, and possibly more communities, benefiting from this service.

I note also in Freeling the Wheatfields residential care services under the guidance of CEO Pam Charnock. We need to see more of these services and facilities available in regional South Australia so that those people, as we want them to, age well in place and do not have to be dislocated from where they have always lived to find that suitable care. I thank the member for bringing this motion and I support it.

S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (13:00): I would simply like to thank the member for Frome for her contribution, particularly acknowledging the breadth of commitment that older people show in our community. I commend the motion.

Motion carried.

Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00.