What we're talking about

Pauline on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' DHS have destroyed my own family. They failed in their duty of care to provide a baby moniter for the deaf , thousands of ... more
Christine on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' isn't it funny how DHS don't recognise the psychological effects of domestic violence on children and continue to allow ... more
Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' There is a family In the Cairns Area who are Foster Carers.Atherton Child Safety have threatened the carers and own ... more
duncan on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i have spent time with this family. it is a house full of love. "mum", grandfather and older sblings.this cannot be an issue ... more
Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Family Law is different from the rest of the law in this country.. Ie. Family Law is based on probability: ie if it might ... more
carol annetta on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' having known this family for some time i am disgusted with the treatment she has received. it seems more of a witch hunt ... more
Maureen Hillary on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn,I have counselled traumatized parents as a result of DHS staff.There are great staff workers who care but they ... more
Janet Tavener on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I am a visitor to this country.My attention was drawn to the case of these children and their foster mother by a relative of ... more
sam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Happening in Tasmania also.Wewon a court case over 8 months ago and due process still hasn't been done.We spent 17,000 ... more
Anne Glover on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I just cannot believe what the DHS has put the Foster Mother, and the children through - I thought the DHS was supposed to ... more
Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' DHS are the most disgraceful organization I have ever had the displeasure of becoming involved with. They are so ... more
Vicki on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hi Derryn,I have known this carer since primary school, she has always put others above herself. Being a carer myself I know ... more
Gran'ma Pam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' As any of us with any sense know, these children should NEVER have been taken from this lady (mum) in the first place, they ... more
Dominic Lombardo on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I see my daughter every six months DHS are conducting a vendetta against me I have not been told why I can only see her ... more
cassy houghton on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hello Derryn,Firstly i would like to thankyou for your support and the willingness to help this beautiful family.I ... more
Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Im a carer also in Qld. I see this happen way too much from our Government. They are starting to use Carers own children as ... more
paul on "I'll pay the fee," says Hinch I believe what Liberal Party has done is stupid. But I feel for candidates like Joh Bauch and James Buonopane who want to ... more
Andrea on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Why are these public servants allowed to blatantly flout the law without the same consequences the rest of society faces? I ... more
birth mother on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i am the birth morther of these 4 children and i just want to say dhs dont care they just want the kids in care so they can ... more
Frances Goff on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn, Firstly, Happy BirthdayHaving worked in a primary school for 15 year I have seen some terrible things regarding DHS ... more

Hinch on '80 being the new 60'

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 2 February, 2010 - 4:59 PM

I want talk about an earth-bound equivalent of 'Houston, we've got a problem'.

In the midst of the current debate about an ageing population, keeping older people in the work force, finding ways to fund the insatiable pension demands, and financing a creaking hospital system, one point really jolted me.

The fastest growing age group is people aged 80 and over. That should not really come as a surprise with the advances in medicine and more knowledge about health and welfare.

A lot of people over 80 are still active and enjoying life immensely. I was in New York recently and TV star Barbara Walters was at the next table. She is 80 and still a regular on network television. My lunch companion explained: '80 is the new 60'.

There's a touch of truth in that. And it will become more apparent as the Government urges older Australians to stay at work. But it is not as easy, or as simple, as it seems.

Since the Global Financial Crisis and the shrinking of superannuation nest-eggs many people are staying at work longer because they have to. They realise their retirement pot of gold is now merely gold plate or nickel and won't keep them in comfort in their twilight years.

Is that producing a workforce full of resentful old people? And, an ageing workforce means a less innovative workforce. Older workers are more conservative. Less likely to take risks. Less likely to embrace dramatic new ideas in a whiz bang world moving faster than anybody ever dreamed.

The other issue: For older people to stay in the work force employers have to want them. Will bosses be flexible enough to make allowances for age? And will younger workers itching for promotion be tolerant of age discrimination in reverse?

Young people leaving school or university, at the start of their careers, may not be tolerant of 'all those old coots' jamming up the top steps of the ladder. 'Out of my way Granddad'.

It's a complex world nobody has had to face before. And governments need equal doses of cleverness, clout and compassion to get there.

Selfishly, I'm 66 next week. I'm not going out to pasture for anybody.

Blog comments

I agree with you Broken, this is really turning out to be the lucky country isn't it? Work till we all drop, preferbaly with one foot in the grave, what happened to retirement? We are all being conned.. I have done my bit and intend to sit back and enjoy SOME years of not paying the Taxman.

Bea Wednesday 10 February, 2010 - 12:12 AM
No need to personally attack one another. All circumstances are different for everyone. I think all of us are going to struggle. Especially the next 2 generations. Working until 80 years old I mean, "broken" has a good point. Sounds like we have to work and pay tax until we die, which wost likely will be before 80yrs. lol

Sandy Wednesday 3 February, 2010 - 7:58 PM
Good on you Nick !! Feb 2nd

We baby boomers are not working because of greed ....most of us have had to hand feed you ' youngies ' into your thirties and beyond, put you through university, survive a couple of recessions, look after our own parents who so generously went without and educated us and did not have the benefit of superannuation in their working life.
Not everyone gets dementia Nick, but I bet 90% of our selfish generation certainly do know how to spell which is more than I can say about your atrocious spelling which goes to show that my generation is able to still work out through all your mistakes what the heck you are trying to say !!!! You may reach our age if you can learn to read the spelling on the warning notices in red at your workplace and then maybe you may feel different towards aged people who wish to still keep working and contributing to society.

Lynne Wednesday 3 February, 2010 - 11:26 AM
All us tradesman can't wait to be still laying bricks at 80 years of age.
Really for us younger folk starting out in the world. What is house ownership? Last I knew the Bank owned it, they call it a morgage until I am about 65. Then I have really own it then.Cool an extra 15 years of laying bricks after that, then can sit back"enjoy retirement", at 80 when I can no longer work, use any of my toys, and require a nurse 24/7. Get real Australia its all a con.

Broken Wednesday 3 February, 2010 - 12:24 AM
Here we go again, baby boomers not wanting to give up working because of greed.

On eproblem that is not being talked about here is short term memory loss, if you hsve an acicident in the work place due to dimenuer, are you covered by work Cover, maybe not.

Nick Tuesday 2 February, 2010 - 8:24 PM