Post by Banker on Apr 27, 2012 17:06:46 GMT 7
The Federal Government has Premier Colin Barnett of a cash grab over his refusal to quarantine a carbon tax-linked pension increase from public housing rent assessments.
The Premier yesterday rejected a plea from the Federal Government to prevent the pension increases linked to the tax from being swallowed up by State housing rents.
His stand drew sharp criticism from the WA Council of the Ageing, which described it as mean-spirited and unjustified.
Today, Federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said the pension increase was vital compensation for cost increases caused by the carbon tax, so public housing tenants should not be penalised with rent increases because their pensions go up.
But Mr Barnett says it has been a long-standing policy for 25 per cent of pensions to be surrendered for HomesWest public housing rents and the policy would continue.
From next month single pensioners will get $338 a year extra, while couples will get $510.
Ms Macklin said today that more than 22,000 pensioners in public housing in WA would be worse off because of Mr Barnett's refusal to quarantine the pension increase from rental assessments.
“Colin Barnett's decision not to quarantine this increase from public housing rents means he will now be taking an extra $85 a year from single pensioners and $127 a year from pensioner couples.
“It has become crystal clear that when Labor delivers a boost for pensioners, the Liberals just want to take it away,” Ms Macklin said.
Public housing pensioners hand over a quarter of their pension as rent.
In Perth yesterday, Ms Macklin called on Mr Barnett to quarantine the increase from rent calculations.
But the Premier said it had been a longstanding policy for 25 per cent of pensions to be surrendered "and it will continue".
"I think many people in the community who have a high mortgage or pay rents in the private rental market would love to be only paying 25 per cent of their income for accommodation," Mr Barnett said.
WACOTA chief executive Ken Marston said the increase under the carbon tax was to the pension supplement - a series of previous concessions rolled together specifically to combat rising living costs - not the normal aged pension.
"For the pension supplement to be eroded by taking additional rent from people is punitive to say the least," he said.
au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/13474346
The Premier yesterday rejected a plea from the Federal Government to prevent the pension increases linked to the tax from being swallowed up by State housing rents.
His stand drew sharp criticism from the WA Council of the Ageing, which described it as mean-spirited and unjustified.
Today, Federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said the pension increase was vital compensation for cost increases caused by the carbon tax, so public housing tenants should not be penalised with rent increases because their pensions go up.
But Mr Barnett says it has been a long-standing policy for 25 per cent of pensions to be surrendered for HomesWest public housing rents and the policy would continue.
From next month single pensioners will get $338 a year extra, while couples will get $510.
Ms Macklin said today that more than 22,000 pensioners in public housing in WA would be worse off because of Mr Barnett's refusal to quarantine the pension increase from rental assessments.
“Colin Barnett's decision not to quarantine this increase from public housing rents means he will now be taking an extra $85 a year from single pensioners and $127 a year from pensioner couples.
“It has become crystal clear that when Labor delivers a boost for pensioners, the Liberals just want to take it away,” Ms Macklin said.
Public housing pensioners hand over a quarter of their pension as rent.
In Perth yesterday, Ms Macklin called on Mr Barnett to quarantine the increase from rent calculations.
But the Premier said it had been a longstanding policy for 25 per cent of pensions to be surrendered "and it will continue".
"I think many people in the community who have a high mortgage or pay rents in the private rental market would love to be only paying 25 per cent of their income for accommodation," Mr Barnett said.
WACOTA chief executive Ken Marston said the increase under the carbon tax was to the pension supplement - a series of previous concessions rolled together specifically to combat rising living costs - not the normal aged pension.
"For the pension supplement to be eroded by taking additional rent from people is punitive to say the least," he said.
au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/13474346