The powers-that-be had better get cracking on building new caravan parks and developing new free camping areas if the latest data from the Government’s Intergenerational reports is to be believed.
The document, which projects what life will be like in Australia in 2055, predicts that the national population will have reached nearly 39.7 million by then, and that the number of people aged over 65 will have doubled.
The average life expectancy of an Australian woman born in 2055 will reach 96.6 years, while a man born in 2055 will on average live until he is 95.1 years. The number of Australians over the age of 100 is projected to be 40,000 in 2055, up from roughly 5000 today.
While this may sound like the queue at some van park amenities blocks is going to be very long indeed, the report also indicates that more and more over 65s will not be living a life of leisure … rather they will still be very active in the workforce.
Australians aged over 65 participating in the workforce will increase strongly from 12.9% in 2014-15 to 17.3% in 2054-55,
In releasing the report, the Treasurer Joe Hockey, said it was a ‘call to arms in relation to reform’ and that older Australians were crucial to ensure future prosperity.
“The grey army is going to deliver prosperity in Australia’s future,” he said. “And we need older Australians, we want older Australians, if they choose to do so, to remain in the work force and to come back into the work force.”
