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Country Women’s Association of Australia

2018 National Conference


Theme: Inspiring Women and Girls

Notification to Voting Member Associations

Notice for General and Urgent Resolutions

August 2018

Dorothy Coombe president@cwaa.org.au M: 0409 808 429


Pamela Yensch secretarty@cwaa.org.au M: 0407 621 673

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General Resolutions
Resolution

1. Rural Banking Services


That the Country Women’s Association of Australia expresses serious concern at the
inadequate banking services available to residents in rural and remote areas and
requests that banks work to improve access to over the counter service and a choice of
well-maintained ATMs in rural and remote areas.
Moved: Marion Dewar Vic Seconded: Marion Spaulding Tas
Supporting Statement:
This resolution aims to draw attention to inadequate banking services available to
residents in rural and remote areas and to request banks to improve access to over the
counter service and ATMs in rural and remote areas.
Over 300 bank branches have closed in the past three years; more than 50 in the past
year.
Banks have stated there is reduced need for them because so many customers have
switched to the internet.
However, internet access is not available, or reliable, in many areas. Some customers
do not use internet banking.
Bank closures result in clients travelling long distance for specialist bank services.
Even when available, use of ATMs is not always without difficulties and may also result
in clients being expected to appear in person at a bank a long distance away.

2. Elder Abuse
That the Country Women’s Association of Australia recognises that State and Territory
Governments and the Federal Government have initiated programs to address the issue
of elder abuse in Australia; and urges them to expedite the implementation of a variety of
measures to reduce elder abuse, including the provision of ongoing support to specialist
elder abuse services and funding for raising public awareness of the forms and
prevalence of elder abuse.
Moved: Pam Mawson Vic Seconded: Bev Perkins Tas

Supporting Statement:

This resolution urges governments to accelerate the provision of ongoing support to


specialist elder abuse services and funding for raising public awareness of elder abuse.
Up to 10 per cent of older Australians are being abused by financial, legal, emotional,
physical or other means.

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Much of the abuse is hidden within the family or the care environment as victims do not
know how to stop it.
Elder abuse within families, the wider community, or in any care setting is unacceptable.
The National Plan on Elder Abuse, under development, is welcomed but immediate
funding is needed now and in future budgets of all governments across Australia to
support efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse.
Specialist elder abuse services must be adequately funded.
Funding is needed to promote elder abuse helplines more effectively.
Advocates, lawyers and social workers who engage with victims and their families need
to be funded.
Funding is required to educate older Australians, the broader community and service
providers about ageism and elder abuse.

3. Accommodation for Homeless and Low Income


That the Country Women’s Association of Australia urges the State and Territory
Governments and the Federal Government to implement a variety of measures to enable
homeless and low income elderly Australians to access suitable accommodation and
services.

Moved: Sarah Barnbrook Vic Seconded: Lindy Cleeland Tas

Supporting Statement:
This resolution urges governments to act to provide purpose built rental accommodation
that is affordable and secure for homeless and low income elderly Australians.
Public housing makes up less than 5% of all dwellings.
Most rental homes are owned by individual investors and rental assistance is minimal.
International human rights law recognizes everyone’s right to an adequate standard of
living, including adequate housing.

The problem of elderly people and rental stress is not well recognised.
Many elderly Australians are either homeless, or living in crowded dwellings, sleeping
on a friend’s couch or suffering from chronic rental stress because they pay more than
30% of their income on rent.
The current private rental market is inappropriate for older people due to the cost, the
lack of security and difficulties in getting landlords to add modifications such as
handrails and ramps.

The general wellbeing of older renters is well below the normal wellbeing range.
Governments and the private sector need to be co-involved in this project.
Recent legislation and announcements of public-private plans are welcomed but
inadequate to deal with even the current levels of homelessness and rental stress of
elderly Australians.

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4. Rental Assistance
That the Country Women’s Association of Australia calls on State and Territory
Governments and the Federal Government to immediately substantially increase rental
assistance to vulnerable single females, fifty-five years and older, in receipt of
government income support payments, to enable them to live in safety and dignity as
the growing disparity between the current increased commercial rentals and inadequate
rental assistance are contributing factors to the increasing crisis of homelessness
amongst older single women.

Moved: Faye Glover Vic Seconded: Jane Grosvenor Tas


Supporting Statement:
This resolution is intended to work towards preventing homelessness among a
particular group of vulnerable Australian women.
Rental assistance is currently $67.90 per week which, when combined with a ⅓ portion
of the single aged pension, provides $200.00 per week towards rent and falls $180.00
per week short of basic unit rentals, which cost a minimum of $380.00 per week.
Consequently, this leaves $87.00 per week to live on, which is well below acceptable
living standards.
Women between 55 and 67 years on Newstart Allowance are even worse off.
Rental assistance needs to cover the gap between commercial rent and the rental
subsidy for all women 55 years of age and over.
Such a gap is untenable for older women who, when their savings are exhausted on
subsidising their rental expenses, or the rising property values have caused their rent to
increase beyond what they can pay, can be evicted, resulting in the loss of personal
possessions and having to live in compromising situations.
People who become homeless need to be supported with temporary shelter. It is even
more important to introduce measures that will prevent people from becoming
homeless.
Homelessness could be solved with a change to the current funding approach by
shifting the focus to prevention and policy measures that address the causes of
homelessness.
By increasing rental assistance this Resolution provides one way to prevent
homelessness.
If nothing is done the situation will worsen.

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5. Q Fever
That the policy of CWA of Australia shall be to advocate that funding be made available
to:
a) educate medical practitioners and alert all communities about the identification,
treatment and prevention of Q fever, and
b) subsidise a further vaccination program and include Q-VAX on the national
immunisation schedule”.
Moved: Annette Turner NSW Seconded: Tanya Cameron NSW
Supporting Statement:
Q fever is a bacterial infection that can cause a severe flu-like illness. For some people,
Q fever can affect their health and ability to work for many years. It is among the most
costly and severe occupational zoonotic diseases in Australia, involving persons
working directly with cattle, sheep, goats and a range of other domestic and wild
animals. Even people who do not have contact with animals may be infected, caused
indirectly from domestic ruminants.
Q Fever is a notifiable disease and so serious it is a class B biological warfare threat. It
is caused by a bacterium, Coxiella burnetii, and infects both wild and domestic animals.
The symptoms are high fevers and chills; severe ‘drenching’ sweats; severe headaches,
often behind the eyes; muscle and joint pains and extreme fatigue. Patients may also
develop hepatitis or pneumonia. Without treatment, symptoms can last from two to six
weeks. Most people make a full recovery and become immune to repeat infections.
Occasionally, people develop chronic infections up to two years later which can cause a
range of health issues including heart problems (endocarditis). This is more common for
pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems or previous heart problems.
About 10% of patients who are sick with acute Q fever go on to suffer from a chronic-
fatigue-like illness which can be very debilitating for years. You can get infected with Q
fever in a number of ways. The main ways being breathing in the bacteria that is in the
air or dust; while birthing, slaughtering or butchering infected animals; handling infected
animals while herding, shearing or transporting animals; while mowing grass
contaminated by infected animal excretions and drinking unpasteurised milk from
infected cows, sheep and goats. The bacteria can survive in the soil and dust for many
years and be spread over several kilometres by the wind. Infected animals often have
no symptoms. The bacteria can be found in the placenta and birth fluids (in very high
numbers), urine, faeces, blood or milk of animals who are infected with or carry the
bacteria. A safe and effective vaccine (Q-VAX®) is the best way to prevent Q fever
infection. Screening is required to identify who can be vaccinated. Vaccination is highly
recommended for people who work or intend to work in high-risk occupations.
Vaccination is also recommended for everyone aged 15 years and over who has the
potential to be exposed to Q fever during activities outside of work, or in the
environments in which they live or visit.

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6. Snowy Hydro Limited
That the policy of CWA of Australia shall be that the Snowy Hydro Limited never be
privatised.
Moved: Annette Turner NSW Seconded: Ruth Cargill NSW
Supporting Statement:
Snowy Hydro Limited has a long and proud history as an Australian company. The
construction of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme is a great example of
Aussie innovation and ingenuity. It has evolved from an electricity generator managing
electricity price risk in the National Electricity Market (NEM), to an integrated energy
business – generating energy, providing price risk management products for wholesale
customers and delivering energy to homes and businesses. It is the leading provider of
peak, renewable energy to the NEM.
It was owned by the NSW Government (58%), the Victorian Government (29%) and the
Commonwealth Government (13%). The Commonwealth Government has bought the
NSW Government’s shares for around $4 billion and will buy the Victorian Government’s
shares for around $2 billion so it will soon own 100% of the Snowy Hydro plant. The
purchase is part of an incentive to get the states to corporatize and privatise its
electricity generation, reticulation and retail assets, and to put the cost of power on a
business-like basis.
Snowy Hydro is an important part of the communities we live and work in. It focuses on
activities that have a wide reach, are accessible and benefit the people. They don’t just
provide donations but build healthy partnerships with the community.
12 years ago, a cash strapped Labor NSW Government decided it would sell off its
share of Snowy Hydro to the private sector and, for a while, it looked as if Victoria and
the Commonwealth would follow. Mercifully, there was a national outcry about the sale
of this national icon and the Prime Minister of the day intervened to stop it.
The CWA expresses strong opposition to the privatisation of the Snowy Hydro Limited.
It would like assurances that the Commonwealth Government will be retaining total
ownership and control. It is an iconic Australian asset. Furthermore, it is the position of
the CWA that the Commonwealth Government, in collaboration with relevant state
shareholders, pass legislation to ensure that Snowy Hydro remains in public hands.

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Urgent Resolution
Resolution

7. Drought
That the policy of CWA of A shall be to advocate for the federal government to:

• Improve the process for identifying and classifying drought areas as with other
natural disasters
• Introduce a broader set of drought support measures and review current application
requirements
• Restructure and significantly increase drought funding to reflect and provision the
above
Moved: Annette Turner NSW Seconded: Tanya Cameron NSW
Supporting Statement:
It is evident that drought is heavily impacting NSW, Qld and parts of other states across
Australia. CWA of A need to be calling on the federal government to improve their
drought policy response in order to support farmers and the communities that they
operate in.

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