Pensioners may ‘rest easy’ with Coalition
Pensioners across Australia may be relieved to have heard Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, confirm he will keep the Age Pension increases as part of the carbon price compensation if the Coalition wins government in September.
Pensioners across Australia may be relieved to have heard Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, confirm he will keep the Age Pension increases as part of the carbon price compensation if the Coalition wins government in September.
Leading seniors advocacy body COTA Australia chief executive, Ian Yates, said the hard won pension increases, although modest, make a big difference to the standard of living for many older Australians.
“This commitment will give peace of mind to many older people who are just managing to make ends meet on the pension and wondering how they would manage if the Coalition government didn’t match the Gillard government increases,” Mr Yates said.
He added COTA Australia and other seniors’ advocates had been nervous given the reluctance of the Coalition to reveal their plans on this issue up to now.
“Pensioners will certainly be resting easier,” Mr Yates said.
However, while COTA Australia understands there are tough decisions to be made when considering budget spending, Mr Yates claimed the organisation was disappointed to see the supplementary allowance cut for those on benefits such as Newstart on the same day as a motion passed in the House of Representatives declaring that the rate of Newstart Allowance was too low.
“A third of long term Newstart recipients are aged over 55 years and living on or below the poverty line as it is. It is a shame the Coalition has given to some older Australians and taken from others.
“Similarly deferring the ramp up of superannuation to 12% and axing the low income super contributions will just mean lower income and older people will have less to live on in retirement and be forced on to a full pension sooner,” he said.
