Post by Banker on Jul 30, 2011 17:23:34 GMT 7
A FAIR go is all a group of Bundaberg pensioners want for the region's struggling aged population.
A petition to increase the pension has been launched and on Tuesday it will reach Bundaberg.
Three pensioners will pound the pavement outside the Chemist Warehouse in the hope of easing the pressure by winning a pension increase and other reforms.
“I'm a pensioner and I know for sure that it's getting harder,” National Union of Retired Workers' member Patrick Kealy said.
The petition, which is an initiative of the Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition, is asking for a raise from 27.7% of average weekly earnings to 35%.
The group also wants pensions and welfare payments to be assessed quarterly, as well as improved health care services and better funding for aged care.
The petition also calls for a review of the means test and GST impact on pensioners.
Mr Kealy said the rising cost of living meant pensioners were struggling – some worse than ever before.
“I'm one of the lucky ones and own my own house,” he said.
“There are the ones that rent and that's a lot of their pension coming out each week.
“They are the ones having a terrible time.”
The lag in applying CPI adjustments has also caused problems.
“It's done in March and then it is done again in December,” Mr Kealy said.
However pensioners often didn't see that adjustment for up to nine months, by which time the cost of living had usually risen even more, he said.
The group will be on the street spruiking the petition from 9am on Tuesday.
The petition will be lodged with the Federal Government later this year.
www.news-mail.com.au/story/2011/07/30/petition-for-a-fair-go-for-pensioners/
A petition to increase the pension has been launched and on Tuesday it will reach Bundaberg.
Three pensioners will pound the pavement outside the Chemist Warehouse in the hope of easing the pressure by winning a pension increase and other reforms.
“I'm a pensioner and I know for sure that it's getting harder,” National Union of Retired Workers' member Patrick Kealy said.
The petition, which is an initiative of the Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition, is asking for a raise from 27.7% of average weekly earnings to 35%.
The group also wants pensions and welfare payments to be assessed quarterly, as well as improved health care services and better funding for aged care.
The petition also calls for a review of the means test and GST impact on pensioners.
Mr Kealy said the rising cost of living meant pensioners were struggling – some worse than ever before.
“I'm one of the lucky ones and own my own house,” he said.
“There are the ones that rent and that's a lot of their pension coming out each week.
“They are the ones having a terrible time.”
The lag in applying CPI adjustments has also caused problems.
“It's done in March and then it is done again in December,” Mr Kealy said.
However pensioners often didn't see that adjustment for up to nine months, by which time the cost of living had usually risen even more, he said.
The group will be on the street spruiking the petition from 9am on Tuesday.
The petition will be lodged with the Federal Government later this year.
www.news-mail.com.au/story/2011/07/30/petition-for-a-fair-go-for-pensioners/