Senior Australians first casualty of Labor’s debt train

18-March-2009

Sophie Mirabella MP Federal Member for Indi will oppose the Rudd Government’s legislation to strip 22,000 senior Australians of their entitlement to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

“At a time when many senior Australians are doing it incredibly tough, the Government is intent on pursuing their plan to strip them of entitlements,” Mrs Mirabella said.

Many senior Australians have had their life savings frozen by the Rudd Government’s bungled handling of the bank deposit guarantee. Now Mr Rudd is determined to make life even tougher for them through a policy he did not disclose prior to the last election.”

“This is just the thin end of the wedge for seniors and Veterans in the North-East,” Mrs Mirabella said.

Through the Harmer Pension Review the Rudd Government appear to be looking at imposing tougher income and assets test rules, which may even force senior Australians out of their family homes.

“The Coalition Government worked hard to pay off Labor’s $96 billion debt, which enabled us to extend support to senior Australians. After plunging Australians in to debt, and without a clear economic strategy, Labor are penalising senior Australians and rolling back entitlements,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“We must remember that Kevin Rudd said he couldn’t live on the Age Pension, but failed to provide any permanent increase in support for the pensioners of the North-East when the Budget was still in surplus,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I call on the Rudd Government to release the Harmer Pension Review immediately and provide a guarantee to older Australians living in the North-East that they will not been made worse off as a result of its implementation.”

“Senior Australians must not be the first casualty of Labor’s debt train,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.