Post by Banjo on Oct 28, 2014 17:21:47 GMT 7
Attempt to abolish seniors supplement sparks stand-off
The Abbott government is once again on a crash course with the Senate over the welfare measures it handed down in the May budget.
It has listed its bill to abolish the seniors supplement to be introduced to the upper house on Thursday in the hope that the Greens will back it. As Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews told Fairfax Media last week, "the Greens have given us some indication that they might support that as a stand-alone measure".
But Greens welfare spokeswoman Rachel Siewert has categorically ruled out backing the bill, saying, "we ain't going to support it".
The supplement is currently paid to older Australians to help them pay regular bills, such as energy, rates, phone and car registration.
People can qualify for the supplement if they hold a Seniors Health Card. They are eligible for a Health Card if they have reached pension age, but do not qualify for a pension. The card is then also subjected to an income test - singles need to have an annual income of less than $51,500.
The government has been hopeful that the Greens would back the supplement abolition, which would save the budget almost $1 billion over four years and give the Coalition another much-needed budget win.
Welfare groups, including the Australian Council of Social Service, back the abolition of the seniors supplement, arguing it would improve targeting and future sustainability of the social security system and the population ages.
But Senator Siewert said that even though the Greens thought the abolition idea could be looked at more closely and did not target the most vulnerable, it should be considered as part of a broader review into retirement incomes.
This review, suggested by COTA, which represents older Australians, would include an examination of proposed changes to the age pension age and indexation, as well as the GP co-payment.
"There's a range of things [the government is] mucking around with there," Senator Siewert said.
The Coalition is also due to debate another of its social services budget bills in the Senate on Tuesday. This includes limiting the large family supplement to families with four or more children and lowering the income threshold for Family Tax Benefit B from $150,000 to $100,000.
This is expected to pass the Senate with Labor's support.
Read more: www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/attempt-to-abolish-seniors-supplement-sparks-standoff-20141027-11cgi5.html#ixzz3HQxGU7wd
The Abbott government is once again on a crash course with the Senate over the welfare measures it handed down in the May budget.
It has listed its bill to abolish the seniors supplement to be introduced to the upper house on Thursday in the hope that the Greens will back it. As Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews told Fairfax Media last week, "the Greens have given us some indication that they might support that as a stand-alone measure".
But Greens welfare spokeswoman Rachel Siewert has categorically ruled out backing the bill, saying, "we ain't going to support it".
The supplement is currently paid to older Australians to help them pay regular bills, such as energy, rates, phone and car registration.
People can qualify for the supplement if they hold a Seniors Health Card. They are eligible for a Health Card if they have reached pension age, but do not qualify for a pension. The card is then also subjected to an income test - singles need to have an annual income of less than $51,500.
The government has been hopeful that the Greens would back the supplement abolition, which would save the budget almost $1 billion over four years and give the Coalition another much-needed budget win.
Welfare groups, including the Australian Council of Social Service, back the abolition of the seniors supplement, arguing it would improve targeting and future sustainability of the social security system and the population ages.
But Senator Siewert said that even though the Greens thought the abolition idea could be looked at more closely and did not target the most vulnerable, it should be considered as part of a broader review into retirement incomes.
This review, suggested by COTA, which represents older Australians, would include an examination of proposed changes to the age pension age and indexation, as well as the GP co-payment.
"There's a range of things [the government is] mucking around with there," Senator Siewert said.
The Coalition is also due to debate another of its social services budget bills in the Senate on Tuesday. This includes limiting the large family supplement to families with four or more children and lowering the income threshold for Family Tax Benefit B from $150,000 to $100,000.
This is expected to pass the Senate with Labor's support.
Read more: www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/attempt-to-abolish-seniors-supplement-sparks-standoff-20141027-11cgi5.html#ixzz3HQxGU7wd
