Senator Fifield, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Manager of Government Business in the Senate visited Blue Haven.

He was joined by Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis, Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler and council general manager Michael Forsyth.

Mr Fifield was ‘‘blown away’’ by the view from the facility’s sky lounge. 

He was given a brief tour and had a brief question-and-answer session with residents.

The new structure for the provision of community services in Kiama was recently unveiled, as Kiama council launched its new brand, Blue Haven Care.

‘‘This is a fabulous facility, and I think that council showed great foresight in the past to have this land to build both retirement villages and aged care facilities, to make sure that there’s a full range of supports for people as they get older,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s really important that when we talk about an ageing population, that we see that as an unequivocally good thing, the fact that people are living longer and the people are living healthier is a fabulous thing.’’

On Thursday Social Services Minister Scott Morrison announced that the government will overhaul Australia’s pension system in next week’s federal budget, with more than 170,000 low to middle income pensioners to be $30 a fortnight better off.

However, the tightening of the pensions assets test will affect wealthier retirees, with about 91,000 expected to lose access to the part-pension and 236,000 people to have their pensions decreased.

Mr Fifield said Mr Morrison had announced that the government were looking at a different way of putting the pension on a more sustainable footing.

‘‘Looking at ensuring that for people who might be at the lower level in terms of the assets that they have, that they’re able to include more of those assets before it affects their pension,’’ he said.

‘‘So that will see many tens of thousands of Australians have more money in their pocket.

‘‘It’s important to make sure that we get the balance right with the pension.

‘‘The balance between people who have the capacity to provide for themselves to do so, but also making sure that there’s a good, strong and generous safety net for those people of lower means.’’

Mr Fifield wasn’t conceding too many details regarding the budget. 

‘‘In my portfolio area there will be the continued provision of funds to support the full rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,’’ he said.

‘‘There’ll also be good provision for aged care.

‘‘At the moment we spend about $14 billion a year on providing aged care support, and there will be good, ongoing provision for older Australians who are facing some extra challenges as a result of getting older.’’