MACST - meeting highlight 21 May 2026

The Minister’s Advisory Council for Senior Territorians (the Council) met online on 21 May 2026 with the Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality, the Hon Jinson Charls MLA.

Minister's update

The Minister for Youth, Seniors and Equality advised:

• In March 2026, the second National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2026-2036 was released. It will bring together governments, the sector, and the broader community over the coming decade to achieve the ambitious commitment to respond to and prevent the abuse of older people in Australia.
• On 5 May 2026, the Territory Treasurer, the Hon Bill Yan MLA announced the Northern Territory Government’s Budget for the 2026-27 financial year. This year’s budget includes $225 million in power and water concessions and subsidies.
• The Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, announced that, from 1 October 2026, the Australian Government will fully fund personal care for eligible Support at Home participants.
• The 2026 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Grant was awarded to DCLS which is partnering with COTA NT to host World Elder Abuse Awareness Day events and activities in June 2026.
• Darwin City Council restored free parking for disability permit holders after the Minister wrote to the Mayor about the Council’s parking changes.
• The Northern Territory Minister for Health, Hon Steve Edgington MLA, advised the Minister that the Australian Government has extended current funding for the Top End Memory Service into  2026-27. The Minister acknowledged COTA NT and other groups for their advocacy on this.

The Australian Government Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP responded to his letter regarding concerns of working seniors in the Territory. The Minister acknowledged the Working Seniors Working Group members Dr Ram Vermuri, Lee Perkins and Abi Ogunmoyela who provided valuable insights for the correspondence.

The rights of the terminally ill legislation is expected to be introduced to the Northern Territory Parliament later this year.

Discussions

The main discussion areas raised by the Council in the meeting included:

• recommendations for seniors in rental housing, retirement options for homeowners, and residential aged care facilities in the Northern Territory
• changes to Advance Personal Plans and scheduled medicines for pharmacists and accreditation standards
• progressing priority areas for the Council’s working groups (concessions, working seniors, aged care home support and housing).

Older persons abuse outreach in the Northern Territory

Darwin Community Legal Service presented on their older persons abuse outreach service and case studies of their advocacy to the Council.

2027–32  Northern Territory Public Service Workforce Strategy

The Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment provided the Council with a presentation on the Northern Territory Public Sector Workforce Strategy 2027–2032 currently under development.