Pension cuts

Not fair at all. Bring on an election. Let's fund the illegal immigrants, move them into our homes, but let's ignore our own homeless and rob the pensioners.
Makes me want to puke.

Do you really believe that pensioners will be better off under abbott?
Take heed of Joe Hockey.

Ta - Ta Julia and the Labor Party, gives us compensation in the form of the Carbon Tax then take it way in other ways, which idiot thought this one up.

Betty

Yes bring on Abbott. This country was in a much better state when liberal were managing the funds. Check the records. Check the debt. One thing is for sure - it can't possible be worse.

Once again they are ignoring g the grey power. Cutting out the pensioner supplement is just plain nasty... Give with one hand a paltry increase then take that and more back. The loonies are definitely in charge of this asylum

Politicians are shameless to cut pensions when they continue to increase their own salaries and allowances. Why not cut those allowances that do not benefit the public such as car and petrol, allowance to maintain a local office and too much on printing as these are waste of public funds. Overseas travel to include their partners do not benefit the public. Study tours are luxuries and pretensions supposedly to update knowledge but unproductive for public consumption but simply an excuse to see places for free at the expense of tax payers.

Sad that Your Life Choices has taken up this type of controversial style such as we sadly cop every day in the leading newspapers.
"Tuesday's Budget MAY VERY WELL INCLUDE cuts to welfare payments received by pensioners." That is just plain inflamatory Herald Sun stuff and reading some of the responses so far, it has not only upset people unnecessarily, but, has been completely misunderstood by at least one reader. Let's wait until next Tuesday night to see what is ACTUALLY in the Budget, then, let's have open warfare on it, if necessary.

Cuts, cuts, cuts to all but the spending they think is neccessary. Ha how about the millions they are going to spend on finding out what sort of submarine the Navy wants. Why not ask the department concerned, and take their advice ,afterall, they are the ones that are going to utilise them. No they just want to spend on as many nonesentials and cut back on everything the everyday man needs to survive. Jobs, medical, schooling for their children, whilst still borrowing millions each day and getting us further into debt.

Buckles.

Cut their allowances? stop their perks? force politicians to tell the truth?
If that happens we'll only get monkeys, OH! we already have them now.
In all political parties.

Yes.. the quicker we get rid of Gillards' govt the better,whether it is media hype or not they are ruining the country and the lifestyle of many pensioners who have worked all their lives to make this country what it is... let's make a change at the next election and get Australia moving ahain.

When we were younger we used to have a full time job in the field of our expertise. There we did what we could to add success to us and to the company we were employed by, so we made a difference. Now this success of ours has been followed by our children and grandchildren. How come then and according to our politicians we do not mean anything? If it wasn't for our efforts to start with they will all be so much further behind. This is the reason why I believe we should be VIP's in this current society, not loosers as they see us.
This is why we need a party to represent us in Canberra: Australian Grey Party (AGP).
Please send your expression of interest to: australiangreyparty@hotmail.com We need the numbers to register it.

World war three should put an end to the rorting by politicians the betrayal the treason the greed, foreign aid, flooding this country with undesirables that rort the system, don't forget these people have access to the hole in the wall to withdraw money that's not their's, it's our own hard working taxes.

100% AngryAussie, let's fight them in Canberra!

what next for the pensioner Gov don't care anymore about old people. but thay do gave a lot to the younger people. it just makes me so upset you work hard all your life and paid your taxes

Your Life Choices "For fun in your 50's 60's and beyond. Your banner mojo!!
But reading the responses to your inflamatory "leak" doesn't seem to be creating much fun for your readers. Why don't you just shut this segment down until Wednesday morning, or, are you affiliated with the Murdoch Group also as you just seem to be stirring a vehement anti government pot. Is this what you want your magazine to achieve???

A lot of whingers and moaners moaning about something that hasn't even happened. How's that for fear.

LETS WAIT AND SEE WHAT DOES HAPPEN NEXT WEEK. IF IT IS TRUE THEN WE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THE MODERN WORLD THAT WILL; BE PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. MY WIFE AND I TRAVEL OFTEN HAVING SONS AND GRANDCHILDREN OVERSEAS AS WELL AS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WHO DO THESE PEOPLE IN POWER THINK THEY ARE, VOTE AGAINST THIS CHANGE TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE. GREY POWER IS ON THE MOVE

I guess a lot of whingers and moaners know they just can't afford to lose any of their pension. I for one certainly can't. This is a place where if we wish to whinge and moan we can , without copping a serve for doing so.

I wonder if the colonel knows that using all capital letters is considered shouting!

Can I put an alternative view to most of your respondents?
Except in cases where there is a pressing medical or compassionate reason to spend long periods overseas I see no reason why the Government should not deduct the Pension Supplement. Someone who has the financial capacity to holiday overseas for more than six weeks in a year can afford to lose $100 or so.
Government revenue should be used where it is most needed, for example the disability insurance scheme.

I THINK ITS DISCUSTING AND THE QUICKER THE LABOUR GO THE BETTER , GOOD RIDENS TO BAD RUBISH , LETS ALL PREY THAT THE NEXT ONE IN WILL BE MORE COMPASINATE HARRY FROM BONDI

Why do we need a sub, are the reds under our beds again? Pissed off with polies feathering their nest's.

REPPIE TO BE HEARD OR NOTICED ONE HAS TO SHOUT AND LOUDER THE BETTER.I can afford to have my pension reduced I planed ahead years prior to retirement, I don't like some upstart poli telling me that I have to spend more time here than I have to,see the world while you are able to travel then when air travel or cruising is no longer a pleasure buy a caravan

Don't tell them you are going . I never do and they never find out. They work on a campaign of fear as they have no way of looking at all of our passports. I love the danger and I feel like a spy sneeking around.

sorry colonel, it is considered quite rude to shout online - no need, those reading these articles are quite happy usually to read them quietly!

Spot on Hoppy! And although the Labor Govt is introducing (minor) cuts people might not be happy with, if you really believe that those on welfare will be better off under Abbott and the Right then you have little knowledge of the history of Australian politics.

lovely, once again the 'fun' site for the over 50s is contributing stress to its readers - why dont we all wait and see what the budget contains? there are always fear tactics spread about prior to budget and sometimes I think this is so that when it comes out everyone just breathes a sigh of relief that it was not as bad as predicted!

this is ridiculous.....we cannot manage now, especially if like me , the govt. pension is all you have .how can these people who do this sleep at night ?
they dont have to try and live on what we do..............
havnt they got any soul , or feelings for their fellow man...................if this happens .i hope it comes back to bite them in a really big way

Good bye and good riddance ALP

Cat, sorry I think you miss the point.
If you can't manage now you cannot afford to go overseas for more than six weeks so you won't be affected.

Could some one please explain to me how come refugees can afford to go back to visit their families back in their country yet Aussies will be penelized if they stay longer then six weeks away. Let's remind ourselves rufugees are supposely penniless when they arrive here.

its just a rumer, anyway if you are healthy enough to go galavanting oversea you probable should not be claiming disablity. As for the pensioner suppliment just a case of robbing peter to pay paul.The have to find the money to pay for their new tax!(someone should really explain economics to the labour party(companies don't pay taxes they pass it on to their customers plus a little bit more for the inconvience))

Anyway the ALP thinks australia is just a big charity and australians are doners not recipiants.

Of cause the liberals think its a company and the biggest investors(corporate tax payers) should receive the biggest return.

The nationals think its a farm and if you not growing stuff you are shoveling manure.

The Greens think its a wildlife park and taxes are the cost of admitance.

The Democrats think we are in America,
One nation thinks we are in the deep south of Americans and
most of the independents just don't think

Shame we can't vote for the people we want in charge instead of the parties we don't.
bring back one person one vote get rid of preferences and parties.
and make it a crime to break election promises.
but then who could we blame.

I recently posted several letter in our local paper about pensions and the current difficulty in just keeping up. Of particular note was that the REAL value of pensions had fallen, under CPI indexing, from around 25% of Average Weekly Earnings to around 20%. Thus we've already taken a pay cut for the country of about 20%, while those who appoint themselves our rulers grant themselves a measly 32% rise.

Gentlemen - ladies - perhaps it's time for me to fulfill my promise to march alone on Canberra, bearing the Australian flag.

Every morning when I get up I thank God that I am breathing, then I count my blessings, no I am not a wealthy investor or a Mining magnate, I am a pensioner who is happy living in the most fabulous place on earth. I do not grizzle, I do not complain, I live on the pension, I try to be as positive as possible, I dont buy into negative stuff, and dont play the blame game.
I am sensible enough to know that whoever is running the country will not repeal any of the cuts or changes, (they all are friends behind the scenes anyway) so if you have a meal in your mouth tonight however meager, be thankful.

I am an immigrant,being in Australia for over 50 years,I think is only fair that they cut the pension after six weeks going overseas.How a pensioner can afford to travel with so little money they get on a pension.I really dont know!!
Do you really think if we change the government we'll be better off? think again!
Giulia has all my support together with the labor party!

@ Rat - I'd hardly call what disability pensioners do on their precious few trips overseas 'galavanting'. Grow a life! people who are Australian citizens with dual citizenship - an oxymoron in my eyes - can draw pension overseas from Oz as well as any entitlements in 'the old country'. What is your problem with the most disadvantaged in our society enjoying some small luxury in a life often fraught with pain and the hardship of making ends meet?

You don't see your mates, like Julia and co, having their cash cut when they travel overseas at public expense, or even from their daily allotment of hardship money, equal to a coupled pensioner's 7 day income, while in Canberra wrecking the nation for us, do you? No - let's chew it out of those with the least, and let the fat cats grow fatter.

Lillian -The pensioners who travel overseas can only do so because they save their money hard to get that chance maybe once a year - or they spend what they have in the bank to do it. Some years ago I read of a lady pensioner who did one trip a year overseas - she said she managed it by not smoking, drinking, and watching every cent.

Starbright - you are absolutely right - they are all friends behind the scenes - and not one government ever repeals what the 'opposition' has set in place - they just add something else from their own agenda to it. That's why I call them the Tag Team.

Oh - and the red car? I borrowed to buy it - got it cheap since it needed a few small things done, which I can fortunately do. It's called the Ramborghini - or the Muttonborghini - to suit me.

How about governments targeting middle class and business welfare instead for a change instead of always targeting those who least afford it?
But don't think the coalition will be any better. They're masters of the 'hit the welfare recipients' mantra only to give it back to the big end of town and the rich.

Julia has got to go ,first carbon tax ,power bills through the roof ,now grabbing money off pensioners ,you are the worst p.m we ever had ,how about giving back your $90'000 pay rise to help the economy ,leave pensioners alone

@The.Grappler
1) I'm a disablity pensioner and can't use my 2 free rail tickets each year because I can't afford the accommodation let alone an overseas trip in fact I know of nobody who is legitanately on disablity who can. So I have a right to call it what it is.

2) I am not a dual citizen and do not recieve any other money than my Australian Disablity pension.

3) Going overseas is not a small luxury, being able to leave your hot water switched on all the time is, being able to order a takeaway is; at least it is for me. So going overseas for more than 6 weeks is massive.

4) if you read my whole comment you will realise I am not a fan of any political party.
That said most goverment overseas travel is for legitimate business (its work!). If it is not they usually pay for it out of their own pockets on their own time.
The truth is compared with other countries we get our political morons cheap. And note the same thing goes on no matter which party is in goverment . So grow up.

5) I agree that the pension is not keeping pace with CPI unfortunatley its the same in most countries in the world, but at least we get one in a lot of countries there is no such thing.

6) I'm not chewing out those with the least only pointing out that if you can can afford to go GALAVANTING (yes I said it again) around the world for months on end while living on a disablity pension you are a finacial genus! and probable won't miss a few payments.

By the way is that a classic sports car, are those mag wheels, must have cost a pretty penny. Got a good retirement fund, good on you.
nice to see were not all suffering.

Just wondered whether the general public knew that "refugees" regularly send money back to their home country - on their Western Union forms, they stipulate that they are unemployed - where does the money come from? Welfare, of course.

They then part "pay" their, e.g. electricity account with a cheque from, e.g. Salvos or Vinnies!

I am an immigrant originally but, because I have worked, will not be able to claim an Australian pension; I have just retired at 69 and my husband is 78 and still working.

Because we can claim nothing from the Government, we are worried that our money will not last.

OH grappler I do like ya car. lol but. good going.
sorry i don't have dual passports either......HOw do they go every year. They must live in ONE big house maybe two families together?
I wonder?

@ Rat
I live exclusively on pension, due to successive waves of poor industrial/economic management in my country, and the trials and outright evils of divorce. That is the result of my working up to 18 hours a day until I became unable to work. I don't have a good retirement fund - I pay for it all as I go - and I count every penny - the car was bought with a cheap loan available to pensioners, since I live out of town. We also have to count up accommodation on any trip, and I manage..just, by looking for specials on the internet or staying with relatives.

Since my latest bout of ill health - I am determined to get my trips in, and believe me, I will count myself lucky to be the oldest backpacker in Europe when I get the chance.

I am also aware of the sometimes heavy costs associated with being a disability pensioner - I am one myself - and I campaign for a better deal for all, so I find it difficult to understand your opposition to those who are fortunate enough to save enough, borrow enough, or perhaps take out an equity loan to see their dreams.

As for 'fortunate enough to get a pension' - I look at this several ways.

Firstly, as told to me by an older citizen, a percentage of our tax since 1956 has supposedly been set aside to cover pensions, so we are not 'fortunate' in receiving our due.

Secondly, the only net loss to government in paying pensions is loss of opportunity to put it somewhere else - and also in keeping pace with CPI. All pension money, as you cite yourself, is almost immediately returned into the tax cycle by the need to spend it. Thus government recoups it through that cycle very quickly, and therefore the net loss is minimal. You could argue that spending that money overseas upsets that cycle - but the pensioners who benefit in that way are relatively few - and that cost is a drop in the ocean compared to such things as funding an office to push women into CEO positions, or even such studies as the one cited above to see if our ANZAC Day might upset someone (it upsets me every year - for different reasons and in a different way), or an investigation into a medieval economic factor in Venice that cost $550,000. Lessee now - $550,000 would fund about 250 pensioners, coupled/single mix, for two months holiday overseas......the ADDITIONAL funding to the aforementioned office for women CEO promotion would fund about 5500 pensioners for a two month holiday....

That's a LOT of pensioners on holiday overseas and receiving pension, just in those two pork barrels alone......if you make it simply the extra two weeks added onto the proposed six weeks (to make it two months total) - it's many, many more....15-20,000 overseas holidays while keeping pension without a cut for two miserable weeks.........

Thirdly, pensioners etc (and I deliberately add that etc) by being essentially a fixed return into that tax cycle of 100% of income, constitute a stabilising and predictability influence on tax revenue calculation, and thus provide a public serve simply by being in place. The only argument is over where government would PREFER to put OUR money - and we all know that each government has its own pet projects that it would like to see come well before its citizens.

Hope I haven't confused you.

Lets wait & see what Tuesday brings. But can I say this in preparation.
%$$#@@*&&^^%%$$#####@^^%%%% I am sure most of you will know what I mean.

I'd prefer to see the Government drop the baby bonus payment, rather than target pensions.

aussies have babies too and get way too much assistance - this thread seems awfully racist some times.

I agree with the thought that one should have children IF one can afford them - but apply that to all, not just recent arrivals!

Hmm ..would prefer to answer directly - but can't see links. Umm - I pay $45 a fortnight for this car through a low interest loan set up for pensioners..it's twenty years old and needs a few things done. The best part is it belonged to a collector who had a shed full of cars and wanted to offload it, so for once I got a low km buy that is pretty good for its age. Bringing it up to scratch slowly.

Umm. Rat - I don't mean to bite you - I understand fully your position - but I see no value in our getting into each other about how one seems to have it better than another. To clarify - if it is perfectly all right for someone to live overseas permanently and continue to receive pension payments through agreements - why is there suddenly such a dire need to take two weeks away form the poorest in the land?

Oh - and all my super went to pay off bills when I became ill.....it's not like I was handed any free ride! Not even remotely like it, thank you! I wonder if I'd have been better spending it on Lotto tickets.....

OK, guys. As for kids - I paid for mine - two ways and more - and now it seems that a vote catcher is to pay people more than a pension to stay at home with the child of their own choice. This is at a time when there is a huge argument over over-population...and it's not as if we need lots of kids these days - I mean (snipes) we hardly have any industrial capacity left, so where are they going to work to pay taxes etc?

I'm on a carers & my husband is on a disability pension. We have worked hard over the years to provide for our future. Unfortunately we lost our only daughter 2years ago aged 27 in the fallout her husband, who is American, couldn't handle things and went home never to be heard of again. We now are carers of Kym's four children aged 7,5,3 & 2. We live frugally and have been accessing our Super to help us. The govt kindly tax us 32% on the money we have already paid tax on which is unfair. We had to sell our two little 5seater cars to buy a van for us to all fit in and we accessed a loan from Fair Finance to enable us to buy the car. When my husband was unable to work anymore we had to sell our house as we couldn't afford the mortgage and I then gave up work to stay home with him. Now our lives have changed and we are raising small children and live in a NRAS rental house. Life is challenging and Centrelink do help us but we do feel cheated as we can't retire for at least another 20 years making sure all of the kids get a good education etc. It just goes to show that you never know what is in store for you no matter how hard you plan. I'm grateful to family and friends who help us from time to time and we love the kids and do count our blessings every day in our very hectic house. We would love to travel overseas more but now we will be camping and showing the kids what a great country we live in.

How hard does the government think that is going to make living for us pensioners that also have a couple of teenage grandchildren in our care 24/7....or do they really care.....Those that have arrived here seeking refuge...........they have done nothing for our country except cause problems by not accepting the australian way of life

Hail and farewell Labor.
Labor has lost touch with its grass roots and thinks only of the rich and powerful.
This budget targets the most vulnerable within our society. Not only pensioners but also those on low income and other pensions.
Speaking to a young mother with three disabled children I found her terrified for the future and how she is going to provide for her family.
Forced to seek refuge in a Refuge as a result of domestic violence she has reared her children on her own since the eldest was 3-3.5 and under extreme difficulties.
Now Labor, "the Government for Aussie Battlers" has decreed that as her youngest has passed the age of 8 years she must register for employment or have her unemployment pension taken away.
This compassionate government proposes to take her carers allowance and carer payment away plus family allowance.
The reality is where are those jobs.Many are going day by day, further increasing unemployment.
The unemployment figures used by governemtn are skewed to show that unemployment is not really very high. Analysis of the criteria used to develop them show just how corrupt and inaccurate they are.
Governments have allowed our manufacturing, tourism, service industries to wind down and move companies offshore. Instead it is relying on the resources industry to fill its “kitty.
The rich and powerful can employ teams of specialist taxation people to make sure their taxation liaibility is reduced to the minimum and yet they continue to cry "Poor me".
Where are the jobs that would allow her to work yet be able to take her disabled children and pick them up after school.
I will show some probable outcomes with this budget, although I will make it clear that these figures and allowances may not be accurate as it was taken from the Herald and further analysis may make some changes and clarification.
We could do some figures for any of those on pensions of any type and see what the outcome will be.
I will look at only a family with disabled children.
After school child care. Let's look at her costs.
Rent $400 per fortnight, increasing by at least $20 fortnightly. Of course”, she received rent assistance but this will stop now that she loses the family allowances.
Electricity and Gas $160 per fortnight.
Water, varies but around $100 per quarter.
Now her pension will be reduced to approximately $560.
Pension. $560 per fortnight
Rent 400 Balance $160
Power/Gas (direct debit from Centrelink) 160 000
Food ???????
School Fees and other costs ?????????
Other school costs ????????
School Lunches, school trips ???????
After school child care = $60 per child, where these children require special care (autistic spectrum disability) ($180)! Absolutely hopeless.
It is illegal to leave children unsupervised, therefore the government is forcing the parent to break the law in order to comply with its social security regulation.
Clothing, medicines, dental care, specialist treatment for the children ????
Food, toiletries, and other personal needs for each member of the family.
What is not clear in the article it claims the budget is directed at single mothers?
Doesn’t it apply to married couples with families? If it does not then we have a strong case for a lack of social justice and discrimination. It seems that married mother hypothetically could go on having children and avoid have to register for employment.
These disabled children require 24/7 attention and it does not matter the age or IQ. They are disabled and autistic. It has been the view of our intellectually challenged bureaucrats and politicians that if an autistic child has an IQ above 70 then they can survive in mainstream schooling without support. This is a “bean counter” exercise just to avoid spending money on the disabled.
I will not go any further into the lack of interest or support from governments for the disabled as this would make a novel over the injustices done to these people. Also, I must respect that his commentary is the right of older citizens but I have written this to show just how far this government has sunk in regards to social justice.
And, we are supposed to be a country where everyone is entitled to a fair go.?
Politicians have ensured they will not suffer because of the tough budget, by giving themselves high increases it has done so at the expense of its constituents.
Look at the pension increases that we have already lost because of the major increases to power, gas, rent, etc. Further increases are expected later on this year. The Barwon Water is signalling a major increase to errors in costing.
Where is the compassion and consideration for others? Governments have become self-centred and once elected no longer represent the Australian citizens. Governments are happy to spend Millions on foreign aid because it makes the images look good; Australian poor will rate a single sentence worldwide.
The government needs to remember that we have one piece of power; the vote and it is time we use that power by giving the vote to smaller parties and independents and eventually break the deadlock of the two party power.
We can expect an increase in unemployed as small businesses shed jobs because people cannot even afford the minor items. It will affect the supermarkets, as conditions will force people reduce food items to cheapest, but not necessarily the best, as they struggle to survive. Many will face living on the streets and starvation. Many will not seek medical/hospital/dental services because the waiting lists will increase, particularly the elderly will likely die before receiving treatment.
We can expect increases to depression and suicide as people find it difficult to cope.
We can expect an increase of domestic violence.
Dramatic you say! Well as an advocate, I already see some of these outcomes.
Charities will be unable to cope with the increased demand on their services.
What is the justice where immigrants who have been in Australia for 20-30 years and contributed to the development of this country. Now when it suits the government they want to send them back to the country they came from. What affect will this have on the Australian born children and so it goes on and on.
When I have details that are more accurate, I will show them.
Regards.

Ok, I'm not an aged pensioner, I am 33 years old, and had to medically retire from work at the age of 23 when I was diagnosed with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. I was 3 months away from being a Police Officer. A dream that was shattered. I have gone against medical advice and gone back to work as I do prefer to work, but it has proved to be my undoing, my desire to work. Only my right hand an wrist works now. No other part of my body can be moved.

The DSP is not all that much either. Not when you break it down. Once I have paid rent, water, electricity and gas, I get $510 per fortnight. I then take $70 for my phone and internet, $140 for my Bladder care (Supra Pubic Catheter), $50 for medication and $50 for my Care services as I live alone. This adds up to $310 leaving me with just $200 per fortnight to buy my food and food and cat litter for my 2 cats. Yes, my budget is very tight. And that does not even include any money for travel and specialist appointments, which I have to frequently miss as I cannot afford to pay to see them. By the time I have finished paying for my bills and groceries I usually have just 35cents left over for me to do with as I please. But you know something? I'm grateful that I at least have a roof over my head, and my two cats to keep me company. It's all I have in my life and I know that I will never be able to live my dreams of a hiking/camping trip through the Canadian wilderness. Heck, I can't even afford to go on a local holiday! I have never been overseas and I know I never will as I would have to pay for not only myself, but for 2 carers to come with me on holidays. I would have to fit their bills as well. Airfares, accommodation, food, the works. But really, if you can save up to go overseas for a week or two, surely you can save up the money to support yourself overseas for that period of time as well! I don't think that the government, and tax payers, should have to fork out the money whilst any centrelink recipient is overseas. It should be up to that person or persons to save for it themselves. I know a lot of people are going to blast me for this but really, it's just my honest opinion. What does it matter to put the holiday on hold for a few more weeks or months to save for that money that will help you really enjoy your holiday? Pay a bit extra toward your rent leading up to the holiday so that when you come back you are still one time or even ahead.

As for politicians taking their partners and families overseas on taxpayers money, That I do not agree with at all. Again, that is a waste of taxpayers funds. If the family want to accompany them, then they should save just like every other hard working people do. We may not be workers on the pensions, but we do work hard to count our cents and save them. The small amounts able to be saved are a blessing.

If they're going to cut payments, I think they should really look at Newstart Allowance. Have a time limit on what is the reasonable amount of time for people to find a job. There are too many lazy people out there that live it up on government funds rather than looking for a job. Cut Newstart down, make it last only 6 to 12 months and once that time is up, no more Newstart. Surely they can find a job within that amount of time! I know I never had a problem with getting a job! I loved working and would work 18 hours a day as an Executive Assistant, then straight after that, I would teach martial Arts. 7 days a week. The E.A job was to save my money for the Police Academy at Goulburn, which I saved and was able to give G.P.A a nice cheque for my fees as well as my rent for the time I would be there and for food... well, I had that in my savings. So I wouldn't have to work for the 8 months and would be able to focus on becoming the best Police officer I could be. I put my dream off for a few years just so I could have that money there to make my dream come true. But back at the newstart... when I was 14 I was working, and during the christmas school holidays I would go to Drake Personel, a temp agency, and work in the office and learn. I was never having to look for jobs because I just had to call Drake once or twice a week to see if there was anything on offer, to cover sickies, holidays, etc... A tighter leash on how much and how long people are on Newstart would be better. The less money they get, the more they will be forced to work because it's simply too expensive to live off the government. Some of us have no choice, but people on Newstart have a choice and most choose laziness. Those of us who have no choice at all are the ones that suffer.

Firstly, the good news - this little bit of deception will ensure Labor, along with all its deceptions, will be sent into oblivion by the grey vote next election, oh, if only that was tomorrow. The bad news is those penny-pinching mongrels know that will happen but somewhere there is a dark bad secret they are trying to find money for to cover up.
I believe boat people get paid much more than pensioners for having done nothing to build this country up so let's see what has been carved off their nice little handout. Eh! What's that? Nothing! Well, wouldn't you just know it!
Here's an idea to raise more funds. Break the pension down into categories of 70 different names of $10 apiece, us pensioners are so dumb we don't think of money as being money no matter what category it may be given. In the next budget Labor could remove the Bullamakanka Grant and a few months later stop paying the Pollywobble Rebate, and so on. The plain fact is that we have just been given a measly $7 a fortnight for something or other, oh yes, to make up for costs arising from the carbon tax I suppose, but almost immediately have been shortchanged by about $26 a fortnight. It's all in the names folks, just so we won't notice the cold hard fact that, in reality, the age pension has been reduced.
And another thing, nobody except a bereaved pensioner knows what a financial disaster the loss of their loved one can mean. The pension for bereaved pensioners should be raised by at least 50% just to keep their lives on an even keel, just so they won't lose their homes as a result of the most tragic thing that will ever happen to them. Has Labor, in all its expounded philanthropic wisdom, ever thought of this aspect? Of course not, they just want to reduce our hard-earned pensions.
This woud be the most blatant deception I have seen by a government in my 75 years.

nnn

Why don't the politicians lose their WAGES if they travel overseas for more than the six weeks.
I will bet you $2400 (old Pounds 1000) to a vegemite sandwich, that the politicians wages go up, more than the pensioners on a pro rata basis. As to the illegal immigrants, they should be flown back to their own country along with the Prime Minister, when she is making the "GRANDE TOUR".

Why all this hype? I don't believe for a moment that the government is going to include such cuts in the budget. It would would be contrary to Labour policy to deprive the less fortunate of our society especially since pensioners already find it hard to make ends meet. Besides, it would be political suicide.

shame shame shame this goverment is that desperate to bring the BRING THE BUGET BACK TO SURPLUSS they will go to any lenths to do it maybe a few home truths about Juliar gillard wont go astray please dont quote me on this did you know that Juliar was a member of the communist party plus living in a female relation ship when when she was at university also she was connected to a certain top ranking awi rep in wa involving enbezelment of a million $ or so and she help to spend some of it ( 16,000.00) on her wardrobe plus help to pay off her apartment at the time I believe that if you dig back in the papers about her when she was in her 20s to 30s you will find it in black and white and the result when it all came to light she was only young and easly led again dont quote me but I have read this article

Not really on this topic, but a way to cut costs and save millions would be to phase out long service leave. As I understand it, but may be wrong, long service leave was brought in as an entitlement for Australian workers to compensate for the distance of Australia from other countries and the time required for travelling. Now that you are able to travel from Australia to most countries within 24 hours, is lsl really needed? I don't know about New Zealand, but other countries don't have it. I know of teachers who take 1 or 2 weeks lsl added on to their mid-year holidays but that is not really what it was originally meant for. To scrap lsl or phase it out would save the government millions from government employees and politicians, and would also help small business owners. Ok if we were a wealthy country but with our current government with a huge debt, continually borrowing money and unlikely to have a balanced budget let alone a surplus can we really afford lsl, and is it really needed?

http://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm
Lets all start with the opportunity presented above by letting the head of the serpent know what we all think of giving us a carbon tax 'soother' and then taking it away with loss of supplements [if that is what eventuates].

Enjoying retirement - are you a labor supporter by some chance or someone who retired with millions. My husband and I are on disability pensions and it is a struggle each fortnight to be able to feed ourselves and pay the bills. Any reduction in the pension, real or supposed at the moment, would only make it harder for us. From what I have read and seen on television, and I know you only believe half of what you see and nothing of what you read, Wayne Swan wants to have a surplus when he gives us the budget - and what better way than slugging the pensioners, single parents - in fact everyone on welfare - oh, but not the refugees!

As seen on ACA a couple of nights ago, what a joke to have refugees living in our homes when we don't even know who they are! I recently had a friend I have known for 10 years live with me when his Mother died and he trashed my home! If someone you know and love can do this to you, what on earth would a stranger do to your home! And that's not JUST refugees! Would you invite any stranger off the path to come into your home for a cup of tea and a bed to sleep in? Of course not! You don't know who they are and what they're capable of! It's just the same for the Refugees. You don't know who they are. They are complete strangers to us! And the Politicians want to roll out 18 to 30 year old males first?! It was an 18 year old male friend who trashed my place, lost me my carers and almost cost me my Housing Commission Home! I have opened my home to 3 friends in 8 years and each one of them left me in debt, but the 18 year old did the worst damage. Never again will I trust anyone to stay in my home. And the extra $140 per week given for housing a refugee... The can shove that up their noses! It's just not worth the constant worry and stress of what may happen to our homes. Be they your hard earned owned homes, rented homes, or Housing Department Homes, they are still our homes that we tend to and look after.

FUN!!!!!???? Have just discontinued my membership of this very depressing magazine. Rupert Murdoch would be proud of its editors.

That's a pretty big call to say that pensioners will lose utility supplements, the original poster obviously has inside information that nobody else has. I've searched the internet and can't find anything so would appreciate a link to back it up.

No longer a Labour supporter,I'm, 70 have been one ever since I could vote,wish I did not have to vote,it;s all confusing,pollies are Liars.Give with one hand and strangle you with the other,by strangle I mean.They have no consideration for those in this plight.They are Pollies which gives them this right.Ok.who will you vote for next.I think a dummy vote will suffice,as they are all dummies.Bring back the cane and give it to the pollies.

enjoying retirement. Who are you? You do not appear to have anything productive to say. You appear to enjoy attacking those less fortunate than yourself. What a shame. People who are "whinging" as you call it are people with real concerns and this is not a minor thing if the number of "whinges"has shown. Please show that you are a compassionate being and not just a troublemaker. Give us some constructive comments instead of belittling others who do not agree with your views. I grew up in anorphanage when children were just objects to be abused and mistreated. for a while it appeared that humanity had moved forward to more humane attitudes and were working towards social justice for all. Now a philosphy is developing of "Me first" governments and Politicians no longer serve its citizens but serve big money and it does not seem to matter which party is in power.
It is time for the citizens to speak up and make sure the MP,s are elected by the people and their exhorbitant salaries and benefits come from our taxes. Let them work for their benefits instead of wasting parlimentary time trying to abuse each other and try for öne-up-manship. work for our country instead of the few rich. Let Australia be a model of how all can benefit and provide justice for all

@ professori_au, how right you are. Amazing how holier-than-thou characters have instant remedies for situations they know nothing about.

I have never before seen such a lot of answers to a comment that should never have been made after all they are only saying that these are cuts that might be made & everybody gets upset and starts to change your thinking that's if you ever thought at all after all voting in Tony Negative is not what I want that's for sure no matter what the labor party brings in to force. Wake up all of you.!! What are you rich that you can afford to travel overseas for over 6 weeks.

is there a moderator on this website ? i think 'enjoying retirement' needs to be pulled iup on all the anxiety he/she is stirring up..this used to be an enjoyable, pleasant discussion area..now there just seems to be a lot of tension & 'enjoying retirement' seems to enjoy causing trouble..

I don't see anything wrong with what Enjoying Retirement said
after all I said the same thing in a different way!

To Enjoying Retirement, please to continue to enjoy. However, please remember that there are some of us Aussies who have worked all their lives, paid taxes and also paid after tax dollars into superannuation accounts so they could try and fund their own retirement. Now that my wife and myself are retired after more than a total of 90 years of working between us and contributing towards a retirement we paid for and not getting any Govt benefits (and not likely until we are in our late eighties), we wish that we could be able to moan about possibly losing benefits.

Why do people complain about what may happen? Enjoy the small things in life in OZ like health, freedom and don't worry about the media stirring up issues that may or may not happen. All politicians are tarred with same brush, have been since time immemorial and will remain so for eternity.

Yay! like I said way back, lets wait and see what actually happens in the budget.

toot2000 - What is so insensitive? That I think politicians are shysters, the media stirs up things or that we worked all those years to provide ourselves with a little better life than we thought the Govt would provide us with?

ooooooohhhhhh I am enjoying this debate

If anyone thinks an Abbott Gov will be good to pensioners they need to think again. What we need to do is set up an aged pensioners internet lobby group. That will show the Politicians how many votes we hold and why they need to keep us on side ! Thats all Politicians care about ! Votes !

The political parties be them Labour or Liberal...regulate the proposals according to how they see Public Opinion....they arent in the position they are in because of decisions dangerous to their popularity this debate is a testing ground...if they deem it an obstacle that will cause resistance from the grey army they will either hit us in a different less obvious way...or penalise us in the future....Why are pensions as low as they are??simply because politicians will never have to survive on them and with a budget that doesnt really convey the way we are forced to live....The "EXCESS" will to them be a means to giving themselves more money and justify overseas expenditure....its bloody tough being an Aussie....But I'm proud to be one...and whatever it takes to improve the standard for those no longer in the work force...I'm all for it....So regardless of your past Julia....think of our future...as the outcome of it...will decide yours

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/money-wasted-on-anzac-centenary-report/story-fn7x8me2-1226325284098

Copy and paste the above into your broser to see how this federal government is wasting ridiculous amounts of taxpayers money on unnecessary reports......

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/single-mums-families-and-pensioners-to-lose-welfare-payments/story-fn7x8me2-1226346312473

I'm pretty sure this

"but pensioners will lose telephone, mobility and utility allowances which can be worth up to $160 a quarter because they are not at home"

refers to pensioners taking extended holidays overseas and if this turns out to be true, then this opening post is the worst case of trolling I have ever seen.

well enjoying retirement why dont you give us the know how on how you are enjoying it and what you do for that enjoyment when most of the pensioners are struggling right now to pay high power and energy costs, rising water and rates for home owners as rising rents in private rentals for renters who cant get public housing because much is being taken up by incoming boat people accepted as refugees by the Tribunal after being rejected as such by Dept and even the UNHCR is amazed saying more than 30% are economic rather than genuine refugees.

Post it all at the Meeting Place lots of others there waiting to hear what they are doing so wrong that they feel short changed.

Enjoying Retirement you wrote....'I agree, sensasionalism at its best, and I am disppointed in this site too, people should just wait and see and dont say things that are not true. dont you see that by saying things like this people get stirred up and say nasty things, its not true the govt would not take off pensioners what they already have, they never have and never will,dont get so emotional about lies and crap in the media and on here now apparently. '
The person who wrote the original article on this thread did not sensationalize the newspaper reports. They stated the facts of the article and have no control over peoples' misunderstanding of written words.
Yes we will have to wait and see but I for one would NOT be surprised IF the welfare cuts do happen. There is plenty in the online newspapers websites about the proposed welfare cuts according to my Google search......

Enjoying Retirement you also said, 'I agree hoppy if you can afford to travel overseas you should not be getting a pension anyway, pensions are meant to be for the less fortunate in out society gone are the days when people thought it was an entitlement for working all their lives and paying tax, the tax we paid would not pay for a fraction of the pension and other benefits we receive and medical benefits, my hubbie had a pacemaker put in a few weeks ago that cost $45K all up, so lucky to live in this country, it saved his life. and great granny I bet you heard or read that about $350K spent on an enquiryinto ANZAC day, what a load of rubbish, dont believe it its not true, ring your local MP or write a letter and ask about it, go to the horses mouth for the truth, dont beleive evrything you see and hear in the media they hype things up, good old rupert murdock at his best.'

Hmmm interesting concept you have there Enjoying Retirement....I have a friend who last year scrimped and saved to go to England for three months so he could meet his daughter whom he knew nothing about until she found him on Facebook. This man was one of the first into Vietnam as a foot soldier and narrowly escaped being blown up by the enemy many times. His closest friends were not so lucky. He resides in a RSL unit and is the volunteer bus driver for the residents. I am very glad that this friend of mine was able to go last year and not be penalised for taking the trip. His ill health precludes him ever making the trip again.

The 100th. ANZAC Day IS true and so it the amount of taxpayers money that was wasted in the TWO reports.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/money-wasted-on-anzac-centenary-report/story-fn7x8me2-1226325284098

I can't believe my eyes Penqueen, are you a real person, did you pay $45,000 for an operation that could have cost you nothing? And your friend who found out he was a daddy when his daughter tracker him down, a Vietnam vet no less, if he's pulling a pension back home, what's he doing having an extended holiday with long lost daughter at our expenses Get real for God's sake.

Well its coming to a head now,there really are people out there who are struggling,and there are those the Vet,who is on a Gold Card and gets just about everything free,truth hurts those in trouble,and one third of the population at least are in trouble,we are living longer,and what will happen in a decade or two? The pollies will still get their big raises,but the likes of us struggling on pensions,where will we be.I hope that I'm not around to find out,not that I would do anything to myself,my pride is too much for that to happen,but there are those whose pride will give way eventually.It's not good to beat each other up about this,something good will come out in the Budget,think positive,and help one another when possible,I'm not a big beleiver in Church or a God,but when things like this start to get to me,I think back to my school days,and I say a tiny prayer,for help.

Enjoying Retirement.
Your reply to my comments states that many of those whinging are better off. That is a judgmental comment that does not appear to be backed by evidence.
You are fortunate to have your own home. I know of many who had, like you, worked hard and saved for just such an event, but for reasons beyond their control lost their savings and home.
I have had personal experience of that when our family lawyer got his hands in the till of our trust and it cost us a lot of money. No support or help from government or the law society except implied threats that i could face defamation if I pursued my complaint.
Forced to do my own investigation I eventually got sufficient evidence to be able to put in the hands of both state fraud squads. The outcome resulted in the “gentleman” becoming a guest of her Majesty’s prison. I received no compensation as, although convicted in a criminal court, I would have had to pursue it in a civil court. A legal process I find ludicrous and if you are convicted of, a crime then compensation should be automatic.
Anyway, my point is that you should not make judgments until you have walked in the shoes of other people.
As an advocate, I know of many cases where I have been able to get some help for people who did not have the money to put food on the table. Again I will reiterate my statement, do not make judgmental statement until you have all of the information and then I would still argue it would not be your task to make any judgments.
My personal experiences I believe have made me a better advocate. I learnt a lot, although an expensive education but I believe it also helped to make me a better advocate.
In an earlier comment, I stated I could not make a final judgment on the Government’s tough budget, directed to the “soft targets”, i.e. People who cannot defend themselves.
I always keep in mind the saying “bad news is good news for the media. It sells papers.
From a government perspective, perhaps cynically, it suit as the government to have a picture about how dreadful it is and so many people will suffer. We could call it a softening up process to make the eventual budget easy to take.
When the budget does come down and it turns out not to be as predicted, people breathe a sigh of relief even when it is still a tough budget and accept with minimum complaint the budget.
The cost exercise I did was to show that if it were to be that tough, then many people would be unable to meet their basic living costs. It would be a budget that denies social justice and causes discrimination and perhaps even racism.
Many children who become street kids are such victims and often turn to a drug, which further isolates them from society. Many people are uninterested in the causes and the symptom becomes the crime.
Most people are fully aware that disabled are not high on any government budgets. Planning for war has a higher priority.
I also stated I needed more information and clarification on some issues if I was to make a firm finding.
regards

ENJOYRETIREMENT: I enjoy reading your 45 comments here, although I have to be honest in saying your were not commenting on whingers, you were whinging on whingers, therefore this makes you too a big whinger. I also noticed that most of your comments were in response to other comments, not your own. It would be interesting to hear your own comments on anything. Your were quite right when saying one should learn to be patient in general , try to be kind your fellow man and be positive. I believe to be a very positive person that sees things for what they are and unfortunately have to disagree with you 100% when you say our pensions are great, they are from great. We should be treated like VIP's in this country and we are not. Canberra disposes of money right,left and centre and forgets about us.
You also said I was a very angry person: I am not in the slightless, in fact I am very pasive man that follows his thoughts and "go for it" when he believes to be correct, I mean you are doing it on these columns, you are fighting for what you believe to be correct, so I think here we agree, not disagree.

Penqueen.in answer to you,I have this to say.I also served my country back in the 60's,I became a WRAN,i know that to all and asunder this does not mean a lot,because back then we did not have a war or whatever you want to call what is going on these days,but I trained as though I could serve in whatever capacity I could.We were not entitled to this Gold Card,even though we were in the service for our country.Those on the Gold Card do not have to pay for doctors ,dentists etc,as my friend who is now 80 odd served in England,and when she came here to live,she was eligible for the GC,haow about that.

Hey,supernan,I already suggested similar,that we should have a spokeperson in the House of Rep's that will stand up for us,but it fell on deaf ears,Mr.Abbott would go deliriously berserk,if he could cut all Pensions back,why?because he is a Pollie with no worries,I found a site where you could actually write to the PM,still waiting for a reply,bit late now anyway as the Budget is on Tuesday Night.Good luck All.and ty.

I think we have an unfair system as far as eligibility for the pension is concerned. I don't think people living in houses valued at over 1 million dollars should get the full age pension. Yes I know, some of you live in a nice house with a water view and it's not your fault if they keep putting the value up but that doesn't make it fair. A recent survey shows that about 30 per cent of people over 65, living in homes worth over one million dollars receive the full age pension.

Some clever people have rearranged their affairs to make themselves eligible and it's not that difficult. Cash in your super at 60, blow it on overseas holidays, luxury cars, or whatever, buy a gorgeous penthouse overlooking the water, keep just enough to put you under the Centrelink threshold, apply for the pension and Bob's your uncle. At some stage in the future, I see the family home will have to be means tested. And so it should be.

Two things:-

We - as a pension couple with multiple disabilities between us (I have 14!)- have no 'carer'. As such, we have to make do as best we can, and hope that one of us is not down at any given time. I have long advocated that those in that dire situation could do with a little extra - we sometimes have no choice but to pay for transport and so forth (though thank god the ambulance is free!Frequent Flyer Points?) - sorry if that cuts anyone else out...

Secondly - since most welfare recipients almost immediately place their 'income' back into the tax system - and all of that is subject to successive taxation until it reaches virtual zero - those welfare recipients are, in fact, paying tax. I say this because some narrow-minded fools try to say that they are 'bludgers' etc.

Thirdly (unannounced) - part of the living allowance is supposed to offset GST - which in many cases was supposed to be offset by a reduction in income tax. Since pensioners did not pay tax on pension - they have now been drawn into that endless spiral of GST on GST 'income tax' - which has further eroded the real value of pensions. You can say that 'government needs money to run' - I say government needs to cut spending on stupid items that nobody got a chance to vote on as part of any election platform.

Robynann you make me feel that working all these years will be worthwhile when I finally get to retire. I feel fortunate that I have been able to work and save towards retirement and am grateful that I live in a country that will provide support for those that are unable to look after themselves when they retire. I think those of us in our mid 60's are the 'sandwich' group who (if like me became 'single' thru divorce or bereavement in their 40's) didnt have enough 'time' to pull together a big super, seeing as it was introduced later in our working lives. The expectation previously was to get a pension, but now superannuation is to provide for us in the future. I take heart from your comments, I often think stuff it, I'll retire and get a pension, then I think, well, if I can continue working, why not? Try to accumulate a little bit of super to help later on. I'm almost 66 and despite the usual ailments think how fortunate we are to live and work in this country. About time though that Centrelink look at those other than pensioners / disability aged pensioners, as I know of younger people who receive it and by their own admission could work but are happy with their arrangement. I hope that the govt. does not 'forget' the older citizens in the budget.... its admirable and necessary to look after families, but dont forget those over 65 too. Best wishes to all.

To my fellow retired Aussies! I have been reading your comments with great interest, mingled with some amusement and yet with some concern.
Everyone has expressed valid views and opinions different though they be be. One important fact we must not forget is this: UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!
We must be a UNITED FORCE that the government will respect. Let them know that the Grey Power of Australia is not to be underestimated.

I think there have been a few attempts in the past to organize a political party but not surprisingly, they fold because of lack of interest. Sadly, I think there's a line in the sand, wealthy seniors too rich to qualify for the pension on one side and pensioners on the other. The wealthy senior can't understand why the pensioners aren't like them, sitting comfortably in old age and the pensioners resent the others because they have something they want but it's now too late to achieve.

Inheritance, or lack of it, divorce, sickness, a well-paying government job all play a part in the quality of our retirement, the roulette wheel of life spins, and here we are.

I smile when I hear someone say that Australia is a classless society, it isn't, and it carries over into old age. Starting a political party for seniors is a great idea and could bear fruit, but understanding this dynamic is important. A political party for seniors would be no different from any other party, half would prefer Labor values, the rest would have staunch Liberal views so getting everyone to agree wouldn't be easy.

To my way of thinking if you can afford to stay overseas for more than 6 weeks, you propably won't worry about losing some allowances. I can't imagine anyone being that desperate that they would vote for Tony Abbott or the Liberals, they are only interested in helping rich people like Palmer, Forrest and Hancock or themselves. They are muckrakers and much bigger liars than Julia Gillard could ever be. BeeBee.

too much has been said. wait for tomorrows budget then comment.
come on all you pensioners enough is enough.//////////////chippies

This is a brilliant idea!!! All the illegal immigrants who are on the "disability pension" will either have to come back here after six weeks or go without Australia's money in their own country. They have rorted the system for years, its about time they were stopped !!!

For heaven's sake, I hope this won't affect the parliamentry pensioners when they travel overseas!! Can you imagine these poor souls loosing out on their holiday JUNKETS if these changes were across the board? Be a little bit reasonable, and only lay it onto the low income riff raff!! Can you imagine Julia and Wayne not being able to use their Gold Card when they leave Parliament (and that's not far off)??

Well! ENJOYING RETIREMENT and others, hasn't there been a lot of angst wasted on this irresponsibly printed article??
"What MAY VERY WELL HAPPEN"!!!
And we are supposed to be the wise elders of our community, arguing about something that may very well happen and, you guessed it, DIDN"T happen!!
How often does what may very well happen NEVER happen?? Unsrupulous editors have much to answer for by creating such concern amongst vulnerable people.
In fact, many of you will even be delighted to see that $2.8 billion has been deferred from foreign aid. And how many of you who are not desperately in need (am sure some of you are though) have been disadvantaged one iota?
Some of you have said that this is a good forum as politicians read our views from it. Maybe, they did read it and saw how many of you would never vote for them, so, why give us any extras? We ALL should be VERY grateful for the benefits that this great country provides MOST of us and if you thought that this Budget was an old fashion 'Labor" Budget, just wait until the next one prior to the next election!!!! And let's see what the Opposition has to offer the genuine needy, long history suggests very little.

Not bad, 232 comments, just goes to show how well a trolling post can work. No they didn't cut the pension and they probably never will but I see some good coming out of this budget.

This morning I saw a spokesman for the Brotherhood of St Laurence and was rather impressed with what he had to say. He basically said that Swan has drawn up measures which will make it easier for people stuck in the poverty cycle to get a job. Executive Director Tony Nicholson likes
* More generous liquid assets test for eligibility to receive Newstart
* the child-care fee assistance scheme (Desperately needed)
* changes to the parenting support payment (children can no longer be used as an excuse not to work)
* $350 million for a blitz on waiting lists for dental work (would you employ someone with missing teeth?)
* National disability Insurance Scheme (People with disabilities and their carers are mostly caught in the poverty trap.

When asked if he thought it was unfair that they didn't raise the unemployment rate he said that wouldn't address the problems of getting people into work, it would only help cement people into an underclass of poverty.

So when you take out all the spin, I listen to this man and have no doubt that he is telling the ruth.

Here's a thought. Think I read that incentives for older (senior) Australians to do some paid work (to supplement pension/super payments). How about having a look at some paid work (part time) in your local hostel or nursing home (aged care facilities). There are many older workers there working as personal care assistants, recreational activity officers, assisting with meals/tea etc.) We are hearing that Aged Care is a booming sector and there are to be many more jobs available. With the incentives for employers to hire older workers NOW is the time to apply. I am almost 66 and I can hear you saying but she is probably in fantastic health! Well, I have the ususal arthritis, osteo & rheumatoid, polymyalgia etc. but I still work part time 20 hours a week as a registered nurse in a Public Hospital. I have recently completed a post grad course at Uni (and I am by no means a scholar) whilst working, looking after an elderly mother who lives with me, and the ususal grandchildren duties. I am an ordinary person, just wanting a few extra dollars when I retire so I can have a couple of weeks hol in Australia. So please, if you are physically able, apply for a casual position locally. You will be pleasantly surprised at the warm reception you will receive if you are prepared to do a good days work for a good days pay.....and a nice little tax free supplement to your pension. Please dont think all those people who have retired on super are 'rich', they have in most cases worked and contributed to wards their retirement through good industry super advice.

There were a lot of negative comments towards Rachel Tyler Jones for suggesting our pensions may go down. She would've also been in trouble has she said pensions may go up, except not many people would've got annoyed. The fact of the matter is nothing happened and do you think this is good for us, listen to what I am saying: NOTHING HAPPENED!!! they all get their share of the wealth this country has but us.

I also work part time - more because I found I missed the structure provided by a working life than anything else - I do have a decent superannuation (not amazing, but sufficient) and I have found that my mood and general wellbeing have improved since returning part time to the workforce - and I expect to use my wages to fund holidays both in and out of Australia!

No good at taking orders here enriquito - I would much rather be asked, or at least listened to for my humble opionion, as would most in here I think - settle petal!!!

What a disgusting excuse for human beings this government or any government is. We the senior citizens of this god forsaken country didn't get handouts to send our kids to school, oh yes we got a palty amount called endowment or a payment when the babe was born. As I had twins I was able to exchange my baby bonus for a twin stroller Whoopee.
It's about time the Govt realised all people weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth, most of them come from well off families or they wouldn't be in Parliament.
This Govt has turned the Senior Citizens into living like they were in a Third World Country.
Get rid of the lot of them. I'm sure we could find enough ordinary people with brains to lead this county. I'll put up my hand for a position. Any more out there for a positon.

Anglicare, just one agency being inundated with pleas for help from struggling parents with children, says there are 26,000 children on their books in Sydney living in poverty and they worry there will be more after the budget. Why?

The parenting payment for single parents will now be cut when their youngest child turns 8, with the parent moved to the lower Newstart allowance. Instead of getting $321 a week, they will then get $263 which is totally inadequate.

The question is, will the cut rate have the desired effect and force the parent into work?

Governments make rules for others and exceptions for themselves;

Guys: I feel as frustrated as you. This is why I am starting the Australian Grey Party (AGP) to have a voice (or voices) in Canberra loud enough to be able to be heard. I would like to stop being part of a "forgotten group", I would like to be part of a "very active and alive group". Send me your expression of interest in first instance to: australiangreyparty@hotmail.com and under SUBJECT simply write AGP, followed by your state (WA, NSW, etc..). Remember: this is only an expression of interest, no more, no less.
On receipt of this email I will copy you in what's been happening, our aims, etc

Well Enjoying Retirement and others, keep the dream alive and press the snooze button..//..

Yes I agree grateful, a lot of unecessary angst and name calling in some cases especially against me, but I have broad shoulders I can take it.This sort of media hype can be very destructive to friendships and Im just glad we all dont know each other personally or there may have been some punchups by some people lol. I was only trying to offer my advise to not panic and wait and see as you were, and sure we didnt get any extras but we didnt loose out either.

ENJOYING RETIREMENT: Don't worry what others may say, express your point of view as you see fit. This is a democracy after all, not everybody is going to agree with everybody all the time.
Re the budget: no we didn't get any nasties at all, in fact we got nothing! not very good, eh!

You can easily judge the character of a treasurer by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.

OOPS I PUT THIS COMMENT IN THE WRONG PLACE FIRST TIME --Yes I agree with that robynann to a certain extent, but have you had a go on some of the things the kids use, they require them to be pretty smart and coordianted , although they can be used too much and the time spent on them should be limited, I am a great believer in kids playing ootdoors building cubbies etc and my grandchildren love to do that as well as their electronic games and computers.You have to know how to use a computer and very well too I might add, to acquire most jobs these days. My computer skills which I learned in later life would not be nearly good enough to get me a job in an office the young ones are much better at it than I am

My grandsons are also very physical, sometimes too much so, and I am wishing they would just sit still and veg out in front of a screen of some sort, they wont read books much.
Arrrrr the dilemna, Are you going to dob him in??

Its nice to hear your enjoying retirement. I personally think you should look around you a bit more. Not all pensioners retired on large amounts of super, or large bank accounts. I see pensioners on cold days sat in large shopping centres, having a sleep, and ask them, and they say they cant afford the electricity bills. if they pay them they havent enough money to eat, unless they go to the free lunch supplied by the Church, and thats their meal for the day, and thats the lucky country treatment to their seniors.When the carbon tax comes in, then things will get so bad, with the higher food and bills...You say families need help to have children. I say its a decision between 2 people if they have children, and they should not expect large amounts of money to help keep them. I agree with the educations expenses, which they would need for books, uniform etc....Further look at the amount of people losing their jobs, and more will be lost now, because of the companies losing tax benefits, and higher tax.Again more new immigrants coming in , working for less pay, taking the jobs,,,,,Im really glad your enjoying your retirement. But I tend to look further afield at the less fortunate,

alamoe417: Well written. I agree with you 100%. When some of us have nice things around, can go out to the pub every so often, plus a yearly holiday we tend to forget that others are not as lucky.
As you have probably read here I have started the Australian Grey Party exactly for this and other reasons. Politicians are only interested in them: Ms Gillard in keeping Labour in government, Mr Abbott in trying to become PM, imagine, a little migrant from England! He would be such a success back home, so he is also doing it for him, not for the average Australian and certainly not for us!
Please send me your Expression of Interest to australiangreyparty@hotmail.com. Remember: it's only an Expression of Interest - no more - no less.

Bizilizy
In regards to appealing decisions made by Centrelink, I appealed on three occasions a decision made by a Centrelink person. As each appeal is lodged, it is reassessed by a different person each time. The same person cannot re examine an appeal that they have previously perused and given their decision. Hence, it pays to appeal as many times you have energy for when seeking justice, and always in writing giving your evidence and your reasons for feeling that you deserve to have your appeal upheld....Hope this helps!!!

Well it didn't happen did it? Without reading all the above, I thought the original article was appalling in its sly assumption that pensioners would be hit, and then the hysteria that followed - all before the Budget was brought down. Pure shockjock stuff.

Ironical really, as at the bottom of this page is a link to the fact that there'll be CPI pension increases in September, $19.50 for a single Age pension. And another link about an increase in the amount of income you can receive before you lost your pension completely.

If anyone reduces pensions, you can guarantee it'll be the Liberals.

I WATCH Julia Gillard announce to the nation on the ABC last week that pensioners travelling overseas would have their payments cut, with the exception of aged pensioners! I think its disgraceful that the Gillard Govt. is slashing disability pensioners. I'm on disability, I work part time, & I travel each year to USA to stay with my partner. I stay for the 90day visa waiver period, due to pain, I wouldn't be able to travel over & back so soon, it takes me 3-4 weeks to recover from the flight! But I do it because I love my partner who is over there for now. I really am thinking I might migrate over there where their Govt. doesn't take from those that deserve it & give to those that just cant be bothered working! Maybe the politicians should be looking at their own salary, She gets paid more than Obama does! Ridiculous!

Jewlz, it's nice that you can afford to make that trip each year - something which most of us can't, or even dream about. And I think if you look into the US social security system, you'll find that people on pensions are worse off than us, indeed they have to pay into social security, which we don't have to.
As for the PM's salary - it's not determined by her or anyone else in the government, it's done totally independently. It's a 24/7 job, and should be paid accordingly. As should the US president. I don't know why he is paid so poorly, but most Presidents are independently wealthy (you have to be to even be elected). And this is a matter for the US, not us.

Hi All,

I have been ill or busy acting as an advocate, so have not responded as soon after the reading of the budget. However, once the budget was released it supported what I said about needing more information as we were relying on media for information and as far as the media is concerned "bad” news is good news. It sells papers better than good news.
Again I would reiterate we need more and clear information, especially about those who may stay overseas for more than six weeks. Some pensioners who are getting older ill or frail and have family overseas have trips funded by the family. Is it the intention of the government to impose on families a condition where family lose opportunities to see their loved ones before they pass on?
Does the government want pensioners to grovel for every little hand-out, while they (the government) offer on one hand and take from the other? I won't suffer that problem as I could not afford the trip but I do not envy those who can. My family is so spread out that even in Australia I could not afford to visit them and many of them cannot travel because of their family needs or job pressures.
Already increased benefits have been gobbled up by power, gas, water, fuel and registration for examples. These increases have been more than our benefit increases, and I would say that this applies no matter what pension/"benefit" Australian citizens receive. Claims that there are insufficient taxes to meet pensions, educational and health requirements, yet the government at the drop of a hat can increase funding to overseas wars or International aid.
What I write now might be argued is not the concern with the pensioner issue but I will argue that they are and in writing I am trying to explain how governments have denied Australian citizens’ rights for the benefit of a few; the rich and powerful. I am a-political, so this is not an issue directed at political parties, only the rights of Australian rights to be respected and protected.
One of the areas I have been researching and cause me to wonder what our governments think they are trying to do. They have been breaching our Commonwealth Constitution, which is our people's laws and replace them with Mercantile laws which are Corporation Laws and do not have provision for common Law Rights and it goes on to our state Laws, where e.g. the Victorian government decided to replace the old Victorian Constitution 1855 by a new one Victorian Constitution 1975.
The whole process was invalid as it did not comply with the necessary legal requirements or to have the people's will to consent (referendum). There are a lot of issues to write regarding the corrupt process, but one in particular is the attempt to introduce a third tier of government that has been rejected by the people twice and it is proposed to try again.
Under the Commonwealth Constitution in a transfer of certain state rights the State would retain a management role for local government. Local Government (councils) have no standing under the Constitution The States under their Constitutions enacted a state local government Act to create councils, (an internal management decision), being closer to the local community, to provide the local services to the community.
We must understand they exist only at the whim of the state parliament and we have seen on several occasions the government has taken over, sold community assets and claimed local council revenue. There has never been an audit where or what happened to the revenue held in reserve, antiques, property assets, (e.g. community halls) and under using the Vic 1975 Constitution have corporatized council water, power, gas, etc. These have been illegally corporated without the will of the people; even councils are now corporate bodies with a tax number.
These organisations have investment accounts that do not clearly inform the people of the level over revenue held. It enables them to claim commercial and confidential legal clauses to deny public information under FOI.
I believe it is time for the public to speak up and demand answers and most importantly to govern under our legal structure the Commonwealth constitution and in Victoria our 1855 Constitution, which has provision to change laws but only as the will of the people (referendum). The 1855 has never been repealed not has the 1975 been taken to the people for a referendum to reject or accept.
That is probably why our representatives, once elected do not care to act for their constituents but rather operate under corporate law where you have no rights. It is a complex issue and would take too much space to show where the breaches occur and where our rights are being taken away.
I urge you; do not take my word for it. There are ample sources of information and legal research having been done, but as the general public has been kept in ignorance of their rights they have been able to get away for it. Ask yourself why so many of our high court judges been elected who are qualified in corporate law, yet few, if any qualified in constitutional law.
I believe had our schools taught our Commonwealth Constitution and State Constitution this invalid and or corrupt situation would not have occurred.
Recently I was speaking to some people and among them was an elderly lady of 87. Fully alert and as bright as a button, she said “what Australian needs is a constitution”. I replied would she be shocked to know we had but it has not been encouraged for the public to have this much knowledge. She was both shocked and angry that governments had taken some of her rights away.

I am 100% sure our prime minister will not change our pensions, she must know the consequences if anything was downgraded. we are awaiting next week the news with smiles and happines. The centrelink is the problem, they know how to cut your income even if you didnt do anything wrong. If you withdraw money from your own bank and change your mind spending it than deposit it again it become overpayment pension. I never seen any law forbiding it, and it cant be a law your own from social security double counted. This is something we all have to think about. You recieved pension say $500 withdew it and change your mind deposit it again. Incredible story for our country, or if you are bad spander and you give that money to your wife to keep it and than she sand it back. That would be an income and pension overpayment increadible story. I was thinking I am in China, Cuba or Vietnam not in our democratic society "lucky country"

niceman: 100% correct. We need people like you on our future Australian Grey party.
Send us your expression of interest to australiangreyparty@hotmail.com. Make sure to include your State. And remember: and expression of interest is just - no more -no less.

Well if Pensioner's supplement is cut,there will be more people on the outer,and more people going very cold in Winter,especially here on the Granite Belt,what little we get only goes so far towards rent ,utilities,food,medication's,I don't think the Labour gov.would go that far,unless we are on the brink of collapse like a few other countries,our aussie $ is doing good so far.PM please take care of the grey power votes next election.

genimi; no I am not, neither are you in joining the Australian Grey Party. All of us are working very hard building the foundations.
Come on...be a sport and join us, after all you will only have to send an expression of interest, which is exactly that - no more - no less.
This great publication is here so you can express your point of view, the Australian Grey Party is here to put those comments in action.

Ok I am for it with my body and my soul, we need another party to maintain what australians deserve and forget about forign aid. Look at china how much she gives away to non chinese people in humanitarian aid? Very little indeed with economy which flooding the world in goods and cheep material. If the people who wants to change the benefit of the older gard than please include me I dont really trust Abbott Company or My fair lady. We need to maintain equilibrium and respect those who made this country what it is today.

niceman: Please send an email to australiangreyparty@hotmail.com. PLease ensure to include your State and I'll enter you expression of interest on our books.
Welcome aboard!!!