A SENIORS portfolio was missing from yesterday’s (November 3) ACT government cabinet announcement, leaving Canberra Liberals MLA Nicole Lawder questioning why?

The portfolio of Minister for Seniors was held by former ACT Labor MLA Gordon Ramsay who lost his seat at the October 17 election, and Ms Lawder is now calling on the government recognise seniors in its own portfolio as its previously done.

She’s asking the new Labor/Greens government what this means for Canberra’s seniors?

“We know we have an ageing population and our government should reflect that,” Ms Lawder says.

“Continuously throughout this pandemic, seniors’ organisations and stakeholders have been pleading for better consultation and communication from the ACT government. Shuffling the portfolio into another is not the answer and it’s simply not good enough.”

However, Chief Minister Andrew Barr says: “We still have a minister that is responsible for government matters related to seniors, and it hasn’t been demoted.”

“Issues related to seniors and veterans will still be carefully considered by this government, including the expanded rollout of more age friendly suburbs improvements in this term of government.

“In any ministry announcement, there are always portfolio names that change depending on the mix of portfolios a minister has responsibility. Rather than listed numerous titles, the government uses the administrative arrangements to outline where the vast array of government responsibilities sit in the new cabinet.”

A government spokeswoman says the seniors portfolio with sit with Greens MLA Emma Davidson.