Former Treasurer Joe Hockey did not get a warm reception when he confirmed the retirement age would increase to 70 by 2035. But Monash University Chancellor Simon McKeon thinks its not such a bad thing.

He argues if Australians are productive well into their later lives, why should they be stuck with a label of being incapable of working past a certain age? After all, older age is a meaningful part of many people’s lives.

McKeon says business, government and not-for-profit all need to take a different view of the usefulness of older people. The changing nature of jobs, including a bigger role for technology, shouldn’t be an excuse not employ older workers.