Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey each experience some senior moments
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Version 0 of 1. Our population is ageing – that much we know – so it was only fitting that post-budget debate was taken over by two senior Australians. It began early with Vilma Ward, the 85-year-old president of the Bulimba senior citizens centre, who told the prime minister, Tony Abbott, on a morning news show that if pensioners tightened their belts any more they would choke to death. “I’ve never heard such rubbish in all my life,” Vilma told a smirking prime minister, who seemed to smell a rat. “You haven’t been listening to parliament, Vilma,” he said. “Why don’t you leave the pensioners alone? If we pull the belt any tighter we will choke to death.” As is the way with modern media, soon after the interview a picture surfaced of Vilma shaded in the beaming smile of Kevin Rudd. Turns out she was on the former PM’s election campaign committee in 1998. In the interview, Abbott gave voice to what was written all over his face. “I said before the last election we will not change the pensions and we are not changing pensions in this term of parliament,” Abbott said. “I suspect you didn’t vote for the Coalition last time and if you don’t want to vote for the Coalition this time, that’s your right.” Vilma was not taking a backward step. “It’s not a matter of who I vote for and who I don’t vote for. Why do you pick on pensioners?” Later in the day, the treasurer, Joe Hockey, opened his traditional post-budget National Press Club speech with the story of 72-year-old Margaret, from Langwarrin in Victoria. By the treasurer’s account, Margaret sent an inspirational message to Hockey including photos of her vegetable garden, which appeared to contain a message of frugality more than a green thumb. Like Abdul, Margaret had apparently stiffened Hockey’s resolve after he rang her to have a chat. “Margaret raised four children, she describes herself as a self-funded retiree, but she told me how much her income is and it would hardly suggest that she’s totally self-funded, but she grows her own vegetables,” Hockey said. “Her husband lost his job in 1991; he was made redundant. People around her have been made redundant in more recent times from factories. Her message to me throughout the entire development process of the budget was, ‘Be brave, be true, remember that we have to forge our destiny.’ “She told me her story about raising four children, trying to develop a business, losing businesses during the recession and she said, ‘Be true to yourself, put in place the things that are going to grow the nation because I am ready to do more.’ “ Margaret may be ready to do grow vegetables for Australia but seniors groups outlined their horror at the budget and will campaign in marginal seats in the leadup to the next election. Which may well indicate we will be seeing more senior interventions in coming months. |