Abstract:

Housing policies for older people in the 1990s evolved under a national Labor government which recognised older people and ageing as important for both economic management and social justice. One major trend has been towards trageting programs to inviduals most in need. A second trend has been the incroporation of formery specialits 'old age' programs into mainsrteam policy development. A third trend has been recognition of the importance of connecting housing to income support and aged care. Housing policy is fundamentally tied to the success and performance of the economy. As the economy slows, pressure is applied to cut back social expenditure and implement 'user pays' principles. Matters of wealth are laregly off the present (Howard Government) political agenda but long-term care could be funded from housing wealth either individually through user charges or collectively through death duties. A KPMG study concluded that about $500 billion will be received by the baby boomer generation in inhertiances and superannuation over the next 15 years