Time to give the over 50's a voice in budget debates on tax, retirement and work

About time anti discrimination laws are reviewed or employers are made more aware of the repercussions of turning away a perfectly good candidate based on age: I had to a job interview that progressed quite well; after travelling interstate to attend the interview, I was told that I could expect to start within two weeks and that I would hear back within 24 hours. After 48 hours I emailed the interviewer who replied explaining that I was not successful. Shocked I called them to find out where did I go wrong only to hear that it was my age, they decided to go for a younger model and told me exactly as it was: " The Job requires a younger person".but that was not mentioned at the interview; After the disappointment and expense, I walked away and decided that I was lucky not get that Job any way, who would want to work for a company with that type of mind set? Today I am retraining and working for a major Bank! I am very happy and active and feel that I can do quite well, but I do cop some flack which I try to use the "water of a duck's back" thought paton and get on with it! ... 

Make people work after 65? That's crazy talk. Most 65 - 70 year olds would not be capable of holding a job - particularly a new job - for 40 hours a week. Part time maybe. But surely it should be their prerogative to work or not: they've worked for about 45 years till now - give them a few years to enjoy life, and give them back some of their taxes paid for 45 years. Biggles, Caloundra 

my gripe with the government is I am paying $40.00 a week penalty for joining a medical fund late I am 62 my wife 63 we joined 5 years ago so for a basic cover we are paying $83.00 a week all up , I thought the government wanted people to join a fund to ease the burden on the public system so why are we being penalised for that.as it stands I wont be able to retire at 65 because I wont be able to afford a private fund unless the penalty is dropped, being penalised for something the government wanted does not make sense to me.my message to the government wake up 

Maybe consider some form of part payment or tax breaks for people over 50 who volunteer their time for community causes. 

My gripe is that I believe the general push is for older Australians to stay in the workforce but yet there is no workers compensation for you after you turn 65 so if you injure yourself at work there is no compensation? This definitely needs to be addressed and provisions made for anyone that is still in the workforce to be covered!!!!! 

I do not own a home, I am 69 yrs old and on a full pension as my line of employment did not have superannuation until my job changed after 40 years of age. This was really bad as others in Government employment enjoyed super from the time they commenced work. Although I put as much as possible into paid up Insurances Policies this was difficult when paying a mortgage which was 17% interest at that time. If it wasn't for my small share portfolio I would have very little to draw an allocated pension to supplement our income. My wife doesn't draw a pension because the age pension age was increased to 65 years. 

Politicians say cut the age pension, how us pensioners would love a politicians pension & all the perks that go with it, especially an ex premier or prime minister. They get fat wage packets, unlike the average person, & must be in a far better place on retirement than Mr. or Mrs. average, but still they begrudge us what we get, & want to cut us down. They appear to want to put us back to where the working man was prior to WW2. 

Australians have suffered from paying high interest rates for years and it as about time they were more realistic when compared to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, it doesn't help those dependent upon savings interest and taxing interest is an outrageous idea. GST could extend to religions/churches, private schools, overseas online purchases, banks (account fees etc). Decrease foreign aid and send the money to our farmers. Immediately STOP all ex Pollie perks. STOP the welfare bludgers. Make ALL companies and unions pay full tax. Treat overseas companies in exactly the same way Australian companies are treated. Imported food MUST comply with food standards employed by Australian manufacturers. Show VISION for Australia ... protect its citizens especially the farmers by drought proofing inland. Do NOT sell our land. Encourage Australians to be entrepreneurs. 

The problem with older people working longer it delays the natural progression of the school leavers being able to find work. I was lucky being able to find work within 2 days of arriving in Australia Over 40 years ago and never had a days unemployment but I contributed 6% to my super over those years so my wife and I could live comfortably in our old age. As an ex electrical Linesman I find it hard enough to climb out of bed in the morning let alone climb a pole these days. What does anger me is the talk of the Government wanting to get its grubby paws on my saving which I have already paid tax on and the Greens and Labor wanting to give it to someone who has gambled, drunk or made no provision for their retirement and want somebody who has saved to finance their life style 

Why is there so much noise about GST carve up. Surely this is just a ploy to misdirect away from what the Govt really is going to shaft us with.