QLD Budget Submission 2024-25

National Seniors Australia, the leading independent consumer group representing older Australians, welcomes the opportunity to put forward a submission to the Queensland Government to inform the 2024 budget process.
People aged 50 and over make up almost 50 per cent of the adult population in Queensland. They make a significant contribution to the state's formal economy through paid employment, as consumers of goods and services and as investors. Queensland seniors also play a critical role in the informal economy, undertaking caring and volunteer activities among many others. Their concerns are unique and should be heard and embraced. There is an urgent need to address rising cost of living pressures affecting older Queenslanders. The increasing cost of basic necessities including groceries, petrol, transport, utilities and housing is a key concern for many older Queenslanders, especially those on low and fixed incomes, who spend a large part of their limited income on these items. Cost of living not only impacts the ability to afford day-to-day necessities, but it's also essential to maintaining a good standard of living and has impacts on mental and physical health and wellbeing.
It is against this backdrop the following key priorities and recommendations have been formulated by National Seniors Queensland Policy Advisory Group on behalf of its members across Queensland as options for consideration as part of the budget process in 2023-24.