Footpath threat for older individuals, say Libs

THE “dire” state of Canberra’s footpaths are placing aged residents vulnerable to falls, the Opposition says.

Shadow Minister for Seniors Nicole Lawder will immediately (October 18) transfer a movement calling on the ACT authorities to hurry up the territory’s footpath upkeep program.

“Older Canberrans are understandably involved concerning the dire state of footpaths within the ACT,” she stated.

“They’re extra weak to falls and depend on footpaths for train and mobility. It’s the essential upkeep parts of the Age Pleasant Metropolis Plan that matter most to older Canberrans which is why I’m calling on the federal government to speed up this work.”

The ACT authorities’s 2020-24 Age-Pleasant Metropolis Plan consists of vary of initiatives designed to assist older Canberrans in areas akin to well being, public transport, human rights and planning.

It’s estimated round 12.5 per cent of Canberrans are aged over 65, with the determine anticipated to extend over the subsequent decade

Lawder’s movement additionally calls on the federal government to jot down to the Federal Authorities in search of assist for a UN Conference on the Rights of Older Individuals.

“Older individuals advocacy organisations have lengthy been calling for the introduction of a UN Conference of the Rights of Older Individuals, I see no purpose why the ACT Authorities can’t write to the Federal Authorities about this matter,” she stated.

“Guaranteeing that our metropolis is accessible to all must be of the very best precedence to this authorities.”