Abstract:

Major developments in retirement income & aged care policy in Australia over the last decade are examined. Concern over the future demand of population aging on public pension resources prompted the government to implement policy to restrict public pension eligibility, reduce tax concessions, & expand & improve superannuation coverage. These policies produced the desired effect of reducing public pension receipt. In the aged care policy domain, changes in policy occurred in three main areas: (1) restructuring & regulation of the residential care industry; (2) establishment of aged care assessment teams; & (3) expansion & development of more diverse care services. These policy changes improved standards of care, shifted care from nursing homes to less intense forms of care, standardized assessment practices, & established more appropriate allocations of long-term care resources.