
Richardson: The fraught politics of SA’s death spiral
The Government’s own population projections paint a grim picture – and could have a profound effect on the way we’re governed, writes Tom Richardson.
The Government’s own population projections paint a grim picture – and could have a profound effect on the way we’re governed, writes Tom Richardson.
Australia’s demographic shifts have been apparent for decades, but government inaction means the country faces an urgent need for policy change, writes Andrea Michaels.
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A week in which a Senate inquiry has been told of a “toxic” culture of cover-up and secrecy at the now-defunct Oakden nursing home seems a breathtakingly odd time for Jay Weatherill to launch his latest gambit – the creation of a new state-sponsored industry that would see South Australia become an “international hub for ‘ageing well’”.
A revised 30 year plan for Greater Adelaide paints a concerning picture for South Australia, with population targets officially downgraded, while the proportion of people aged over 65 is expected to grow significantly.
Governments are failing to prepare for the profound demographic shift in Australia – and their policy paralysis could come at a high cost for future budgets and individual lives, writes Adelaide tax specialist Andrea Michaels.
South Australia’s reputation has been dogged by the spectre of its ageing population, but the state’s Economic Development Board chair Raymond Spencer says there could be riches to be mined in the so-called “Silver Economy”.