Seniors react to carbon price
PRESS RELEASE
24 February 2011
Older Australians fear carbon price cost-of-living increases
Despite wanting to hand on a greener world to their grandchildren, older Australians have some reservations over the introduction of a carbon price in 2012.
National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said: “Cost of living pressures are already a significant issue for older Australians on fixed incomes”.
“Retirees have very little capacity to adjust to price increases, and policy makers have no concept of this”.
“Many already struggle with basic living costs,” he said.
“Currently, pensioners and self-funded retirees are feeling the pinch of rising household energy costs”.
“In some states, we’re seeing 8 percent increases for the year”.
“We fear that by introducing a carbon price we open Pandora’s Box”.
“The question National Seniors will be asking government is: How will they mitigate the effect of these increases on consumers?”
With a quarter of a million members Australia-wide, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for the over-50s. It is the fourth largest organisation of its type in the world.
Media enquiries: Sarah Saunders 0409 055 156
24 February 2011
Older Australians fear carbon price cost-of-living increases
Despite wanting to hand on a greener world to their grandchildren, older Australians have some reservations over the introduction of a carbon price in 2012.
National Seniors chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said: “Cost of living pressures are already a significant issue for older Australians on fixed incomes”.
“Retirees have very little capacity to adjust to price increases, and policy makers have no concept of this”.
“Many already struggle with basic living costs,” he said.
“Currently, pensioners and self-funded retirees are feeling the pinch of rising household energy costs”.
“In some states, we’re seeing 8 percent increases for the year”.
“We fear that by introducing a carbon price we open Pandora’s Box”.
“The question National Seniors will be asking government is: How will they mitigate the effect of these increases on consumers?”
With a quarter of a million members Australia-wide, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for the over-50s. It is the fourth largest organisation of its type in the world.
Media enquiries: Sarah Saunders 0409 055 156
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