MORE THAN THREE MILLION AUSTRALIANS TO BENEFIT FROM INCREASED SUPPORT
23rd October, 2007
Thousands of older Australians, people with disabilities and carers in Wide Bay will benefit from a major Coalition Government announcement today.Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss has warmly welcomed the new measures.
"These are not the first initiatives designed to support these Australians, and if the Coalition is re-elected I'm sure it won't be the last,” Mr Truss said.
"Older Australians built this country, people with disabilities have many challenges and need our ongoing assistance, and carers are responsible for a huge amount of help within our communities. The Nationals will ensure they are not left behind.”
A re-elected Coalition Government will allocate $4 billion over four years to:
• Increase the Utilities Allowance paid to older Australians in receipt of income support to meet basic household bills like power and gas. From March 2008 the Utilities Allowance will increase from $107.20 to $500 a year for a single and $500 a year for a couple. This will benefit more than 2 million Australians;
• Extend the Utilities Allowance for the first time to more than 120,000 Carer Payment recipients regardless of age, in recognition of the vital role that carers play in our society and the financial and emotional burden they carry;
• Extend the Utilities Allowance to more than 700,000 Disability Support pensioners;
• More than double the Seniors Concession Allowance to $500, which will particularly benefit self-funded retirees, people who have worked hard, made sacrifices and saved diligently for their retirement. The Allowance recognises that most self funded retirees do not receive the state government concessions on energy, rates and motor vehicle registration available to pensioners. Around a quarter of a million self-funded retirees will benefit from the increase from June 2008.
These increases are in addition to the bonuses provided in previous Budgets. They do not preclude consideration of further bonuses as economic conditions allow.
"Many of these people are doing it tough because of the increased costs of living. These measures should help many thousands of people in our region who do not directly benefit from the strong economy."
A re-elected Coalition Government will provide pensioners with greater peace of mind that their incomes will keep pace with price increases in the items that make up their household budget. The Nationals in Coalition will guarantee that if living costs for pensioners increase faster than general inflation or wages, pensions will be topped up to ensure that pensioners are fully compensated for increases in the cost of living.
“These announcements will also help to eases the burden and imbalances faced by single pensioners by providing the same payments to singles as to a combined couple,” Mr Truss said.
In another measure announced over the weekend, the Government has pledged to use proceeds from a Climate Change Fund to lessen the impact on pensioners and other low income households of the move to a carbon constrained world.
ENDS
