[b]Part 2[/b]



They also invite feedback and ideas via forums and emails, so this is why I'm posting these details. Go for it if you like. It is for information only.

No doubt the other parties have similar, but this is mainly for those who complain they don't know or hear what the Libs are doing.



http://www.liberal.org.au/seniors/?Page=Share

Thanks for the information koko. It is so important that we look beyond the "news" and this is a great initiative on the part of the Liberals. We can all whinge and complain as much as we like on this forum, but we need to take action if we want something done, and this is yet another opportunity to do that.

Thanks koko--I will be reading that as soon as I get time maybe tomorrow

Yes good one Koko.



I may have mentioned that in Tassie the State Government within a month of end of June announced that it was taking over the water and sewerage from the local councils who all individually had done this and of course their ratepayers had paid - some councils have water meters and some don't etc some have deep sewerage and many don't.



No attention has been paid to this disparity - meaning that charges have to go up in order to put meters on every property on the Island - most of them that is - and also to put in deep sewerage in areas where it has never had any - very costly and who is paying for this?



Every single household even though of course many already paid in head works for sewer etc when they bought the land and home to start with.



then they tried to put the Seniors concessions on rate over to the Councils to bear instead of it being paid for by the State. It is capped at $372 a property and rates have nearly tripled over the 15 years we have lived down here and every year that $375 is worth less - still good to have but the other part is rising faster than the pension.



So after a lot of complaints they finally gave in and the councils sent out their part of the rates with part of the concession $262 deducted already on July 1 and now the water and sewer bills will come out with $110 off them hopefully and they said we are giving the seniors a bonus of paying the full amount this year.



So good of them (not) - WA pays 50% to their seniors! which is fair and means that however much it goes up seniors are being fairly treated.



Anyway emailed both Premier Labor and Opposition Leaders Liberal and Greens - so far only answer back saying busy but will take in my query and the suggestions for winning the next election soon is from the Liberal bloke.



I asked all of them to review the heating allowance paid to senior households of $56 a year set in 1971 and not keeping up with prices today. This is means tested to only having the pension and no other income.



Also free travel on the Metro in off peak for seniors as they do in WA.



Gas concession as they do in SA.



Also asked why anyone in SA can buy our electricity cheaper than we can in Tasmania. (Cheek I thought!)



Also will his party bring in competition as the Labor has ruled out any until 2012 so we are stuck with one only.



Worth a try I thought.



BTW If any state has any other good concessions we dont - let me know and I will ask for them too - why not?

Hi I would just like to clarify the situation a little bit about the rates discounts here in WA .

Pensioners can get a discount of between 25% to 50% IF they own the property and IF they are the only name on the title deeds and in some councils you can defer the rates. If there is still a mortgage or other names on the title deeds in my council area you are NOT allowed to defer the rates.

Also if you are not a pensioner then you can only get a discount on your rates if you have a state seniors card and some other concession card from the federal government . To get the state seniors card you have to be 60 or over and not working more than 20 hours a week ,so it is not quite as easy as it sounds.

Taking my situation as an example, I am nearly 62, have a state seniors card, because I have been a widow since 2005 when I turned 60 I was able to apply for a pension concession card HOWEVER I DO NOT GET A PENSION, I only get the widow allowance, due to also having a mortgage still I do NOT get the full discount on my rates I get a portion, it is a help however I still have a big bill on both the council and water rates.

The only advantage is anyone in this position can take all year to pay the rates which means that some fortnights if you need to buy food you can defer the payment of your rates that time to do so.