Government urged to lower pension age for Indigenous people

VACCHO noted that the Royal Commission into Aged Care laid bare the "serious disadvantages" experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and highlighted "the extent to which they continue to be let down".



On Monday VACCHO called on the Federal Government to commit to lowering the age to accessing the pension from 67 years to 50 years for older Aboriginal people, noting that "due to the significant gap in life expectancy experienced by Aboriginal people, lowering the pension age is an important step towards addressing the serious disadvantages experienced by Community".

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and Human Rights Law Centre, with support from DLA Piper, is currently fighting in the Federal Court for a reduction in the pension age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 67 to 64. A decision in the case is expected later this year.