NSW pensioner rent freeze
Media release
11 October 2010
National Seniors Australia (NSA) today welcomed the NSW Government’s move to quarantine single rate pensioners’ in public housing until 2011 NSW budget is handed down.
NSA manager for NSW Paul Versteege said the move by the NSW Government to freeze the rent increase for single rate pensioners in public housing was a move in the right direction.
“I also fully support the NSW Government’s move urging the Federal government to find ways to assist the 190,000 pensioners in NSW who live in private rentals.
“In the light of a NSW state election next year I am keen for the NSW Opposition’s to clarify its policy publically on the pensioner rent freeze,” Mr Versteege said.
“Pensioners in private rentals are at the mercy of landlords. We have anecdotal evidence of rents being increased as soon as a pension increase comes through translating to a financial gain for the landlord and not for the pensioner for whom it was intended,” he said.
Concerns over loss of funds for community housing as a result of the rental freeze also highlighted the need for a review of cost of living increases for pensioners combined with rent increases in the private and public sector, Mr Versteege said.
“I urge all state and federal governments and oppositions to work together to address the challenges of a growing ageing population that is already feeling the pinch,” Mr Versteege said.
Media contact: 07 3233 9106
With around 280,000 members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.
11 October 2010
NSW pensioner rent freeze welcomed - but there’s more work to do
National Seniors Australia (NSA) today welcomed the NSW Government’s move to quarantine single rate pensioners’ in public housing until 2011 NSW budget is handed down.
NSA manager for NSW Paul Versteege said the move by the NSW Government to freeze the rent increase for single rate pensioners in public housing was a move in the right direction.
“I also fully support the NSW Government’s move urging the Federal government to find ways to assist the 190,000 pensioners in NSW who live in private rentals.
“In the light of a NSW state election next year I am keen for the NSW Opposition’s to clarify its policy publically on the pensioner rent freeze,” Mr Versteege said.
“Pensioners in private rentals are at the mercy of landlords. We have anecdotal evidence of rents being increased as soon as a pension increase comes through translating to a financial gain for the landlord and not for the pensioner for whom it was intended,” he said.
Concerns over loss of funds for community housing as a result of the rental freeze also highlighted the need for a review of cost of living increases for pensioners combined with rent increases in the private and public sector, Mr Versteege said.
“I urge all state and federal governments and oppositions to work together to address the challenges of a growing ageing population that is already feeling the pinch,” Mr Versteege said.
Media contact: 07 3233 9106
With around 280,000 members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.
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