Retirement Living Council details ‘serious concerns’ over how council proposal will impact older women

A proposed rate hike for retirement villages will disproportionately affect older, single women, the Retirement Living Council claims.

Women aged over 55 are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia. Pictured is The Parks Retirement Living in Earlville, Cairns, one of the retirement villages hit by Cairns Regional Council’s proposed rate hike. Picture: Molly Frew

A proposed rate hike for retirement villages will disproportionately affect older, single women, the Retirement Living Council claims.

The national leadership group for the retirement living sector said it surveyed five retirement village operators in Cairns who would be affected by Cairns Regional Council’s proposal to increase the rates levied on some retirement villages.

The survey found that 62 per cent of residents were single women and the average age of all residents was 81.

RLC executive director Daniel Gannon said council’s proposal – which has drawn widespread criticism from residents and the RLC – would unfairly impact already vulnerable women.

“Older women are already the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia, a scourge that anyone in a position of policy or power should appreciate and understand. It’s a gendered problem and a consequence of long-term systemic issues,” Mr Gannon said.

Daniel Gannon, executive director of the Retirement Living Council.

“Council must think carefully about whether it wants to help or hinder older women who find themselves at greater risk of homelessness because the wrong choice will exacerbate what is already a deeply rooted problem across Australia.”

According to the Queensland government, women aged 55 and over are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia.

In the 2021 Australian census, the number of Australian women experiencing homelessness grew 10.1 per cent from 2016 to 2021, compared to a 1.6 per cent increase for Australian men.

In total, the number of Australians experiencing homelessness grew by 6067 people from 2016 to 2021, with females accounting for 81.7 per cent of this increase.

Retirement village resident Jean Humphris is a single pensioner who previously spoke to the Cairns Post about how the rate hike would affect her. Picture: Molly Frew

Mr Gannon said council should be encouraging older residents to enter “viable, long-term and secure housing” such as retirement villages, instead of “causing financial and emotional distress to older people, especially women”, through their proposed rate hikes.

“These communities are ‘resident ready’ and can immediately provide homes for women at risk of homelessness,” Mr Gannon said of retirement villages.

“Given 20 per cent of residents in Cairns will be over 65 by 2050, we need policies that provide safe, affordable accommodation for older women – not rate changes that force them into homelessness.”

A council spokesman acknowledged the proposed rate changes were causing pensioners concern.

“Council rates the retirement village, not the individual residents,” the spokesman said.

“However, we understand that retirement village operators have indicated they may pass the proposed rate changes on to residents, and we recognise this is a real concern for those living on fixed incomes.”

Retirement village residents protesting the proposal before Cairns Regional Council's general meeting on May 28. Picture: Brendan Radke

The spokesman said the changes proposed would bring retirement villages and relocatable home parks “into line with other multi-dwelling properties across our region”, and it would ensure the responsibility for funding council services and infrastructure was distributed fairly across the community.

“These types of properties – home to both retirees and younger residents – currently contribute significantly less in general rates, with some paying as little as $58 per dwelling per year,” the spokesman said.

“This is about fairness and ensuring that everyone contributes equitably to the services we all rely on.”

Retirement village residents are expected to protest the proposal on Wednesday, June 11 at Cairns Regional Council.

Originally published as Retirement Living Council details ‘serious concerns’ over how council proposal will impact older women