Seniors feel snubbed by Treasurer

12:00a.m. 14th May 2008

Independent retirees were largely overlooked in last night’s budget, which failed to acknowledge their past and present contribution to the economy.

That was the reaction last night of the Sunshine Coast-based state president for the Association for Independent Retirees, Helen Sava, who said they had barely rated a mention in the document unveiled by the treasurer.

Mrs Sava said the association had made a detailed submission prior to the budget, outlining strategies to overcome existing and future inequities and recognise the independence, dignity and freedom of choice for self-funded retirees.

The submission had included a series of recommendations on issues including transport, superannuation, taxation, Medicare and health care.

Mrs Sava said despite record spending outlined last night, independent retirees had been largely forgotten.

“Self-funded retirees appeared to be left out of the scheme of things and it was disappointing that the points in our submission were not addressed,” she said.

Mrs Sava said, however, some announcements in the budget were still welcome, including an increase in the carer’s fund, the indexation of age pensions, changes to Medicare and increased health funding.

“We were also pleased to hear the announcement regarding groceries and petrol national fuel watch, allocations for affordable housing, and increased spending on education and infrastructure,” she said.

Meanwhile, the National Seniors Australia chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said the single most important measure for national seniors in the budget was for the government to respond to pension levels, particularly for single aged pensions.

“They’ve chosen in this budget to treat senior Australians with contempt and to reject them as part of the working family mantra,” he said.

“Senior Australians who are struggling under ever-increasing cost burdens ... get nothing out of this budget.”

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Posted by sunnyone44 from Mooloolaba

on 14 May, 2008 at 5:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

And so the struggle for the seniors,the disabled, the unemployed goes on and on. Age indexing was done under the Howard Government which is why some have reached their 60's and still have to wait another couple of years to get the aged pension.

I honestly think that Mr Rudd and Mr Swan have absolutely no realistic idea whatsoever how difficult it is to live on what a pensioner gets these days.The fine rhetoric that is spouted by this Government is not worth the paper the speeches are written on.Unless you have lived the life of a pensioner or through no fault of your own been unemployed and trying to feed and clothe a family you will have no conception of just how hard it really is.

Posted by chrissie from minyama

on 14 May, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

I agree, and so much for the housing situation. They are contributing funds for 50,000 houses for rent by 2011 and yet there are 200,000 immigrants coming into Australia to live in the next 12 months alone.

How in the world is this going to help the rental situation for low income earners? How is a pensioner meant to pay over $350 a week for rent on the coast. This amount is only going to go higher. We need some real answers to the housing crisis and not just for people that own their own homes.

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