Country seniors need $30 pension increase “more than anyone” – Senator Nash

“…single pensioners in country regions simply can’t afford to wait…” Unbearable cost of living pressures on country seniors have prompted Nationals Senator Fiona Nash to demand the Rudd Government support a Coalition bill to be introduced into Federal Parliament next week which would increase the single aged pension by $30 per week. “Country pensioners are suffering more than anyone: with few public transport options, seniors’ travel concessions are worth little, so they are more vulnerable to rising petrol prices,” Senator Nash said. “General CPI-linked pension increases have fallen far short of compensating country seniors for skyrocketing fuel and grocery costs, which are such a large part of their weekly budget.” “After meeting Tweed pensioners advocate Don Morgan at his northern New South Wales home in July, I wrote to the Prime Minister asking him for ‘ an immediate top-up payment for pensioners so that at the very least their buying power does not continue to erode’.” “I am yet to receive a reply from Mr Rudd. What he must now do is instruct his party to support the Coalition bill which would increase the single pension by $30 a week.” Senator Nash said acknowledged the Government was undertaking another review of welfare payments, but single pensioners in country regions simply couldn’t afford until that document is handed down in 2009. “This is not a gift,” Senator Nash insisted. “Seniors have a reasonable expectation that their fixed incomes will continue to buy at least the same amount of needed goods and services throughout their retirement.” Media contact: Anita Cakalic 0409 489 751

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