North Coast Labor MPs Janelle Saffin and Justine Elliot on Tuesday voted in Parliament to strip the Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card from 500 North Coast retirees, according to Nationals Senator Fiona Nash.
“That is 500 locals who will face a sixfold increase in their prescription costs, lose their $500 utilities allowance, $138 telephone allowance, and $500 seniors bonus payment, as well as miss out on concessions provided by the State Government, bulk billing doctors and some private companies,” Senator Nash said.
“Ms Elliot and Ms Saffin have, as always, toed the Labor Party line and voted for the Rudd Government’s Social Security and Veterans' Entitlements Amendment (Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2009.
“The Government admits the Bill is specifically designed to save $85 million over four years by taking away the concession card from 22,000 low income self-funded retirees across Australia.”*
“In the first year alone, seniors will have to pay the full $32.90 rate rather than the concessional $5.30 rate on nearly one million prescriptions.*
“Considering Ms Elliot is supposed to be the ministerial champion of seniors and Ms Saffin prides herself on her social justice credentials, it is a disgrace they are putting their political careers ahead of the livelihoods of their constituents.”
The Nationals in the House of Representatives including Cowper MP Luke Hartsuyker voted against the measure, but Labor won the day with its superior numbers.
Senator Nash said she was working to block Labor’s concession card grab, when the bill was presented to the Senate.
“I will be voting against this mean and tricky law, as will all Coalition Senators. If we can get the Greens or independents onside, 500 North Coast seniors won’t have their incomes slashed by their incompetent and/or uncaring local Federal Labor MPs,” Senator Nash concluded.
* Parliamentary Library Bills Digest, ttp://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bd/2008-09/09bd099.pdf
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