This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/seniors-pledge-to-campaign-in-marginal-seats-to-reverse-budget-cuts

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Seniors pledge to campaign in marginal seats to reverse budget cuts Seniors pledge to campaign in marginal seats to reverse budget cuts
(35 minutes later)
Seniors groups will campaign in marginal seats at the next federal election against indexation changes to the pension and other cost-of-living issues such as the Medicare co-payments.Seniors groups will campaign in marginal seats at the next federal election against indexation changes to the pension and other cost-of-living issues such as the Medicare co-payments.
The chief executive of the Council on the Ageing (Cota), Ian Yates, and Michael O’Neill, of National Seniors Australia (NSA), confirmed they would campaign to reverse the decisions affecting older Australians in the Abbott government’s first budget.The chief executive of the Council on the Ageing (Cota), Ian Yates, and Michael O’Neill, of National Seniors Australia (NSA), confirmed they would campaign to reverse the decisions affecting older Australians in the Abbott government’s first budget.
Yates said he was upset at the changes that indexed the pension to inflation rather than wages after three years and raised the pension age to 70 in 2035.Yates said he was upset at the changes that indexed the pension to inflation rather than wages after three years and raised the pension age to 70 in 2035.
“At the last election, the Coalition got a tick on our scorecard because it was committing to not change the pension,” he said.“At the last election, the Coalition got a tick on our scorecard because it was committing to not change the pension,” he said.
“I am upset because I took him at his word. I would expect older Australians and pensioners will react very poorly to indexation changes and we will be pushing government between now and next election to reverse this decision.”“I am upset because I took him at his word. I would expect older Australians and pensioners will react very poorly to indexation changes and we will be pushing government between now and next election to reverse this decision.”
The prime minister, Tony Abbott, rejected opposition claims in question time that the government was cutting the pension, saying that it would “grow at a somewhat slower rate”.The prime minister, Tony Abbott, rejected opposition claims in question time that the government was cutting the pension, saying that it would “grow at a somewhat slower rate”.
“We’ve been very upfront with the pensioners of Australia,” he said. “If people don’t like that, they will have the opportunity to vote at the next election.”“We’ve been very upfront with the pensioners of Australia,” he said. “If people don’t like that, they will have the opportunity to vote at the next election.”
Cota is the peak body for 1000 organisations, which represent 500,000 older Australians. Yates said there had been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty around the government’s pension decision.Cota is the peak body for 1000 organisations, which represent 500,000 older Australians. Yates said there had been a lot of anxiety and uncertainty around the government’s pension decision.
O’Neill, the NSA’s chief executive, said the two issues that most concerned older Australians were the cost of living and health, given older people often had multiple health issues.O’Neill, the NSA’s chief executive, said the two issues that most concerned older Australians were the cost of living and health, given older people often had multiple health issues.
He said at the last election the NSA had targeted 12 marginal seats across Australia to raise awareness of his membership’s concerns.He said at the last election the NSA had targeted 12 marginal seats across Australia to raise awareness of his membership’s concerns.
“We will definitely be running that exercise at a local level to expose candidates and parties to issues that will be important to older Australians, including pensioners,” he said.“We will definitely be running that exercise at a local level to expose candidates and parties to issues that will be important to older Australians, including pensioners,” he said.
Seniors groups had campaigned on pensions and indexation in the lead-up to the budget and drew a government commitment to a three-year moratorium on indexation. As a result, the decision will not take effect until after the next election.Seniors groups had campaigned on pensions and indexation in the lead-up to the budget and drew a government commitment to a three-year moratorium on indexation. As a result, the decision will not take effect until after the next election.
Yates predicted the pension changes would be defeated in the Senate. Labor has indicated it would not support the pension indexation and the Palmer United party ruled it out. Clive Palmer campaigned in the election to increase the pension.Yates predicted the pension changes would be defeated in the Senate. Labor has indicated it would not support the pension indexation and the Palmer United party ruled it out. Clive Palmer campaigned in the election to increase the pension.
Yates suggested the indexation changes would lead to a fall in the pension in real terms of $100 over 10 years but the treasurer, Joe Hockey, disputed the figure and said the changes were necessary.Yates suggested the indexation changes would lead to a fall in the pension in real terms of $100 over 10 years but the treasurer, Joe Hockey, disputed the figure and said the changes were necessary.
“Eighty per cent of people over the age of 65 are on the age pension,” Hockey said. “Given that roughly one out of every three children born today is going to live until 100, then the current system obviously is going to have structural challenges.”“Eighty per cent of people over the age of 65 are on the age pension,” Hockey said. “Given that roughly one out of every three children born today is going to live until 100, then the current system obviously is going to have structural challenges.”
The budget also tightens the asset test for pensions. Pensioners can earn $46,600 a year from their assets and still claim the pension. The income limit will be reduced to $30,000. The budget also tightens the asset test for pensions. And the Commonwealth senior health card, given to seniors who do not qualify for the pension, will have eligibility tightened; untaxed superannuation will be taken into account.
Couples will be able to claim the pension while receiving up to $50,000 from assets, reduced from $77,400.
And the Commonwealth senior health card, given to seniors who do not qualify for the pension, will have eligibility tightened; untaxed superannuation will be taken into account.
The threshold for eligibility for the card – earnings of $50,000 a year – will be indexed, and the seniors supplement, paid to people who qualify for the health card, will be scrapped after the last payment in June.The threshold for eligibility for the card – earnings of $50,000 a year – will be indexed, and the seniors supplement, paid to people who qualify for the health card, will be scrapped after the last payment in June.
The supplement was $876.20 a year for singles and $1320.80 combined for couples.The supplement was $876.20 a year for singles and $1320.80 combined for couples.
Interest groups are still working out how many seniors will be affected by the changes.Interest groups are still working out how many seniors will be affected by the changes.
Yates described the changes to pensions as an “unprecedented decision” given tax benefits on superannuation to high income earners are worth as much as pensions.Yates described the changes to pensions as an “unprecedented decision” given tax benefits on superannuation to high income earners are worth as much as pensions.