Seniors’ organization urges Australian Government to establish legal services for elderly

From ABC News, Australia:

The Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League wants governments to fund a legal service for seniors.

The league is using money from its “fighting fund” to lobby governments across the country.

The league says older people are suffering because they cannot afford access to legal help.

It wants the federal and state governments to fund services.

Queensland secretary Yvonne Zardani says the league will circulate petitions throughout the country.

“So we’re going to make this a national campaign,” she said.

She says this week’s state conference in Queensland voted unanimously to pay for the campaign from the organisation’s ‘fighting fund’, which was established in 1978 to fight for the rights of older people.

“It’s only ever been used once, and that was to fight to save Medicare,” Ms Zardani said.

The conference also resolved to lobby governments to provide financial help to older people who are raising their grandchildren.