Pension grab - mean
Media release
20 September 2010
National Seniors Australia (NSA) slammed the NSW and WA governments’ grab for the pensioners’ pay rise calling it mean and insensitive.
Spokesperson for NSA Paul Versteege said pensioners living in public housing would have their pension increase of $15 for single aged and disability pensioners and $23 for couples a fortnight swallowed up in public housing rent increases.
“National Seniors fought hard to get this historic rise for pensioners last year and will not stand by and watch the state governments absorb it into state revenue in a move which can only be described as mean and insensitive,” Mr Versteege said.
“To take from pensioners, who are already struggling, flies in the face of all the political speak we hear. It is unthinkable that a government would take from one of the most vulnerable groups in the community.
“Pensioners cannot afford to lose one dollar of this pension increase and the NSW and WA governments need to urgently rethink their position,” Mr Versteege said.
He applauded the Federal Minister for Community Services Jenny Macklin’s call for the state governments to reconsider their position.
“The NSW and the WA government would do well to join Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory in quarantining the $30 a week pension increase from rent calculations,” Mr Versteege said.
With around 280,000 members - working and retired - across the country, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for older Australians. It is the fourth largest group of its kind in the world
20 September 2010
Pension grab - mean
National Seniors Australia (NSA) slammed the NSW and WA governments’ grab for the pensioners’ pay rise calling it mean and insensitive.
Spokesperson for NSA Paul Versteege said pensioners living in public housing would have their pension increase of $15 for single aged and disability pensioners and $23 for couples a fortnight swallowed up in public housing rent increases.
“National Seniors fought hard to get this historic rise for pensioners last year and will not stand by and watch the state governments absorb it into state revenue in a move which can only be described as mean and insensitive,” Mr Versteege said.
“To take from pensioners, who are already struggling, flies in the face of all the political speak we hear. It is unthinkable that a government would take from one of the most vulnerable groups in the community.
“Pensioners cannot afford to lose one dollar of this pension increase and the NSW and WA governments need to urgently rethink their position,” Mr Versteege said.
He applauded the Federal Minister for Community Services Jenny Macklin’s call for the state governments to reconsider their position.
“The NSW and the WA government would do well to join Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory in quarantining the $30 a week pension increase from rent calculations,” Mr Versteege said.
Media contact: 07 3233 9135 or 3233 9106
With around 280,000 members - working and retired - across the country, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for older Australians. It is the fourth largest group of its kind in the world
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