Post by Banker on Jul 10, 2013 18:08:49 GMT 7
Each fortnight, Sonja Rutherford's aged pension arrives and she is forced to decide which bills can be paid - or rather, not paid.
With increases to utilities bills, land tax and council rates, Mrs Rutherford says she has to scrounge together her funds, including her pension, just to keep up with payments.
"My gas, electricity and water bills are all increasing and I can't do anything about it," she said.
Mrs Rutherford was among about 150 pensioners who rallied at Parliament House in Melbourne on Wednesday, calling on the state and federal governments to increase the aged pension rate by 7.3 per cent to offset hikes in tax and utility prices.
Organiser Marion Lau, of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, said many pensioners were living below the poverty line.
If politicians can afford to give themselves a pay increase, they can afford to increase the pension, she said.
"We need to value our older citizens. They've done a lot of hard work to make the country as it is today and they need to be looked after in their old age."
Frank Cherry, from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, said the federal government was denying pensioners a fair go.
"A simple move from the 27.7 per cent rate to 35 per cent would alleviate much of the suffering."
news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/07/10/16/23/vic-pensioners-rally-for-better-pension
With increases to utilities bills, land tax and council rates, Mrs Rutherford says she has to scrounge together her funds, including her pension, just to keep up with payments.
"My gas, electricity and water bills are all increasing and I can't do anything about it," she said.
Mrs Rutherford was among about 150 pensioners who rallied at Parliament House in Melbourne on Wednesday, calling on the state and federal governments to increase the aged pension rate by 7.3 per cent to offset hikes in tax and utility prices.
Organiser Marion Lau, of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, said many pensioners were living below the poverty line.
If politicians can afford to give themselves a pay increase, they can afford to increase the pension, she said.
"We need to value our older citizens. They've done a lot of hard work to make the country as it is today and they need to be looked after in their old age."
Frank Cherry, from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, said the federal government was denying pensioners a fair go.
"A simple move from the 27.7 per cent rate to 35 per cent would alleviate much of the suffering."
news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/07/10/16/23/vic-pensioners-rally-for-better-pension
