The negative response by the dominant privately-owned, profit-driven mainstream media, politicians and know-nothing pundits to the April 2005 productivity commission paper - Economic Implications of an Ageing Australia - was quite predictable. After all, their particular 'report' was based upon statistical manipulation, econometric 'models' and ideological presumptions that combine to assist the authors and the know-nothing politicians and pundits feel important, and create further social divisions within the Australian common-wealth, using fear of a cynically created pseudo-economic 'burden' to frighten the poorly-educated sheeple, whose taxes pay their exorbitant executive salaries and perks.

Thanks for your well-researched and enlightening article Melanie.

"......although women only dropped marginally.............."

That's just as well,isn't it?