Budget 2008:
Budget 2008: Pensioners got Scrooged.
Last night’s budget was a disgrace to Australian pensioners.
To assist older Australians with the cost of household bills, the Government has:
- Increased the Utilities Allowance from $107.20 to $500 per year
- Increased the Seniors Concession Allowance from $218 to $500 per year
- Increased the Telephone Allowance from $88 to $132 per year (only) for those with an Internet connection.
The Prime Minister said in an interview on television, “This amounts to tens of dollars per year” Yep, PM, 44 dollars to be exact! And the surplus was how much again, about 21,700,000,000 dollars? - Committed to paying the $500 Seniors Bonus again this year. (But this is not guaranteed for next year. “We’ll have to wait and see”).
- The Age Pension will increase in line with the higher of the consumer price index, increases in male total average weekly earnings or the living cost index for age pensioner households.
Out of the $31 Billion in tax cuts, the Age Pensioners will receive nothing.
In response to a public outcry, the Prime Minister said he "understands the Budget has not pleased all senior Australians".
"I understand that this will not be regarded as enough by many, I understand that fully and that's also why the questions of retirement income will be considered also by the Henry Commission of inquiry into tax, income support and retirement income," he said.
Dr Jeff Harmer "will complete an investigation into measures that might be adopted to strengthen the financial security of carers and seniors". Dr Harmer is now to report to the Treasurer and Ms Macklin by the end of February next year.
We, like most Australians, thought that carers and pensioners would have been well looked after. Especially after Mr Rudd's comments on the 8th of March 2008.
"What I can say to carers and pensioners right across Australia that there is no way on God's earth that I intend to leave them in the lurch," he said.
"We are there to extend a helping hand to those in need."
"They are at the forefront of our attention and that will be the case as we frame this budget and that will be seen on budget night as well." PM reassures carers, pensioners
For those who don’t know the figures:
The Age Pension is currently $273.40 per week ($14,216 per year) for single or $456.80 per week ($23,753 per year) for a couple, both of course subject to an income and asset test.
If the Age Pension were to increase in line with the CPI, then based on CPI rate of 4.2% couples could possibly get another $19.19 per week.
No wonder the government wants to tackle inflation!
Putting this into some perspective;
Full-time adult ordinary time earnings is $1,123.30 per week.
That’s more than 3.5 times what a married or single pensioner has to live on, even if you included all allowances and the “once off” bonus.
To be fair, the pensioner will get an extra $44 per year to splurge on internet connection.
To stay in touch with their family.
But, let’s face it; couldn't visit them; can't afford the petrol!
We feel it is an absolute disgrace that older Australians are being treated like this. It reminds me of Boxer in Animal Farm. This is not what we would have expected from a labour government.
Certainly not after being out of office for 12 years.
But then again, we can't have all these pensioners spend their “surplus” and waste it on plasma televisions.
That would put severe pressure on inflation and we have to fight inflation.