It's time for a Boomer Party

Government income is tied to the size and growth of the economy, usually expressed as gross domestic product. The Commonwealth's net debt is equal to about 10 months' revenue - most mortgage holders can only dream of such a burden. Note in the graph below that our government debt level is a little above Denmark. What is Hockey talking about?

IMF Chart showing where Australia sits in terms of general government net debt, 2012-2018

Treasurer Hockey also didn't tell you that his plan to raise pension eligibility follows Italy and Spain by linking the statutory retirement age (which doesn't exist in Australia) to life expectancy. Since when did we start following two of the largest economic basket cases in Europe – Italy and Spain – on anything? This is desperate stuff from the Liberals.

As for longevity, if you were born now as a female, you might reach 85. But for the Boomers – and especially the men – those born in the late 1940s and early 50s, probably won't see 80. We are living longer measured over a sixty-year period but those Boomers who live in to there 80s are outliers – they exist at the very end of a normal distribution curve.

While a Boomer Party must protect ageing Australians, the real fight is for a prosperous and secure future for our children and grand children. This is where political conscience and action must be focused with laser-like intensity. A Boomer party must be altruistic.

A Boomer Party would initially concentrate on getting candidates elected to the Senate and then turn its attention to Lower House urban areas in our capital cities.

Some policy ideas in no order:

• Hold a Royal Commission in to the Australian Recruitment Industry to crush age prejudice once and for all. Employment, no matter how old you are, no matter what religion or race, must be by merit.
• Leave the age pension eligibility age at 67 but use one per cent of interest from our $1.8 trillion super funds to create long-term job schemes for people under 30.
• Increase the pay by EBA for aged carers by 17 per cent and begin a recruitment drive for more carers from within Australia.
• Set aside $7 billion for the creation of new, state of the art, aged care homes in our cities and rural areas over the next 20 years.
• People over 55 would work for the dole.
• Create a 'free' mentoring service by senior Boomer executives and trades people for businesses. They will be paid a nominal weekly fee for a maximum three-year contract.
• Reintroduce ethic subjects at schools and universities. Greed has become the motivator for many business dealings rather than honesty, reciprocity and professionalism.

You may disagree with my list. You may want to add more. I have studied how the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) works in America and have experience in mass media campaigns and demographic analysis. A Boomer Party will ensure intergenerational equity – for young and old, not just the rich.