Kaye's Blog

Two main changes have been made to the Age Pension – the rate has been increased and the age at which it may be accessed has been increased.



First the increase for singles (and a lower increase for couples) – long overdue, and a good start – but all those who are interested in an equitable society will keep a watchful eye on how age pensioners fare as the full ramifications of the global financial downturn hit home.

I also believe that the increase in pension age is fair, necessary, and probably just as overdue.

Read more here:

http://www.aboutseniors.com.au/index.php/kayes_blog/budget_changes_to_age_pension

Bob Brown - Australian Greens Leader



"And grabbing back some of the little extra pensioners have been able to earn is pretty poor form."



"This budget is a missed opportunity to transform Australia to a low-carbon economy. It is clear the Rudd government is more interested in propping up the coal industry than investing in the clean, renewable energy jobs of tomorrow,"



"The Rudd government is spending almost double the amount of money on coal projects as it is investing in clean, renewable energy projects. A single coal project in the Hunter Valley will receive almost the same amount of money as the entire $1.5 billion Solar Flagship program over the next six years. "





Claire Martin - ACOSS



“ACOSS welcomes the Government’s Budget announcement to increase assistance to struggling single pensioners by increasing their payments by $33, the biggest rise since the Whitlam Government increased pensions by 10% in 1972,”



“However, the pension increase in last night's Budget excluded sole parent pensioners who remain on the old payment levels. Sitting well below sole parent pensioners are people on the unemployment allowance and even lower, students 18-64 years old on Youth Allowance or Austudy Payment.”



“If the pre-Budget pension rate of $285 per week is not enough for a single pensioner to live decently, then $227 is not enough for an unemployed person. Also, $550 per week (including $285 for the parent and $265 in Family Tax Benefits for the children) is not enough for a sole parent to raise two school age children alone.”



“Past governments sought to justify the gap between pensions and unemployment payments because pensioners have to rely on income support for longer. In reality half of all people on Newstart Allowance now rely on this payment for over one year, and over a quarter for over two years.”



Joe Hockey - Shadow



"The Budget relies on rubbery figures projecting what would be an unprecedented future economic boom to show a path back to surplus,'' Mr Hockey said.



"Having blown all the proceeds of the last mining boom, Labor is betting the house on another upswing that hasn't even begun yet.''



"That is an average of $225 million of new spending per day,'' he said.



"The 2009-10 Budget delivers a dismal trifecta - record spending, a record deficit and a further severe increase in the jobless rate to 8.5 per cent.''



"Labor's out-of-control and undisciplined fiscal management doesn't end at spending. Over the same 18 months since the last election, Labor has introduced tax hikes which increase revenue by $26 billion," Mr Hockey said.