Labor MPs vote down Coalition bill to increase pensions

“…difficult choices at the checkout, while Kevin 747 continues his world tour..” Federal Labor MPs need to explain to tens of thousands of country pensioners why they have denied them a $30-a-week increase in their aged pension, according to NSW Nationals Senator Fiona Nash. “The Senate on Monday passed the Coalition’s Urgent Relief for Single Aged Pensioners Bill, but Labor Members used their numbers to bury the initiative in the House of Representatives,” Senator Nash said. “Single aged pensioners are living on just $273 a week – a sum which a string of senior Labor Ministers have conceded they couldn’t survive on.” “Thanks to Labor, tens of thousands of pensioners across country New South Wales will be forced to make difficult choices at the checkout, while Kevin 747 continues his world tour.” Senator Nash dubbed the bill “Don’s Law” after visiting the NSW north coast seniors advocate Don Morgan at his Tweed Heads home in July. “Don and Nancy understand what Kevin Rudd doesn’t: massive recent grocery and fuel price rises mean single pensioners cannot wait for his pension review which is not due to report until 2009 – these people need help now,” Senator Nash said. “The measure is affordable: it would cost just $1 billion a year, while the Rudd Government inherited a $21 billion surplus from the previous Coalition Government,” she concluded. Contact: Murray Lees, media adviser, 0447 34 00 25

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