It’s one chop and theft to survive hard times

Australia’s tough economic times are now forcing many elderly people onto subsidised meals, cutting back on basics and even shoplifting in order to survive.

The Carlton Senior Citizens’ Centre in Melbourne has reported that its members regularly eat one $5 subsidised meal there daily and that bread, toilet paper, and even serviettes were being taken.

The centre is leased from the Church of All Nations by the City of Melbourne, which contracts an organisation to serve subsidised meals at the centre five days a week.

Councillor David Wilson said that “we do all we can to assist our partners and more importantly, our senior citizens”.

Victorian Council of the Ageing executive director, Sue Hendy, said that with the age pension starting at $14,000 a year there was very little to spare for people to survive on.

“We know people are making cuts into quality and quantity of what they buy.  Before, they might have two chops. Now they eat just one”.