Hope for country seniors as Senate passes “Don’s Law” to increase pensions

A law which would increase the single aged and veterans pensions was passed by the non-Labor parties in the Senate on Monday night. Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Fiona Nash, has christened the initiative “Don’s Law” after visiting NSW North Coast seniors advocates Don and Nancy Morgan who have been lobbying for the increase - despite gaining no personal benefit. “Unfortunately every Labor Senator present voted against Don’s Law. It now goes to the House of Representatives where it will only survive if a handful of Labor MPs have the courage to stand up for their most vulnerable constituents ahead of party interests,” Senator Nash said. “To my mind, for a government to sit here in the knowledge that $30 a week would make such a difference to these people and refuse to deliver it is absolutely abhorrent. The elderly people around this country deserve better.” She said Don and Nancy Morgan’s local MP, Labor’s Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot should lead by example and ‘put people before politics, for once’. “A courageous act like this could lead to enough backbench Labor MPs voting with the Nationals so we can get single pensioners the help they so desperately need,” Senator Nash said. Contact: Murray Lees, media adviser 0417 406 338 23 September 2008

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