Labor will help make ends meet, says Saffin
Labor Candidate for Page Janelle Saffin says a Rudd Labor Government is offering increased financial support to older Australians, carers and people with disabilities, to help them with utilities, transport and communication costs.
Ms Saffin says Labor’s plan, Making Ends Meet, will help pensioners, self-funded retirees and other eligible Australians in very practical ways.
“This is a major boost for people in Page who are under financial pressure from increased costs of petrol, groceries and housing,” she said.
Ms Saffin says the plan provides a utilities allowance for $500 which will be paid in quarterly instalments instead of twice a year which will help when the gas, water and electricity bills arrive.
The telephone allowance will increase from $88 to $132.
Federal Labor will also provide grants of up to $10,000 for eligible community organisations to set up free internet connections for their members.
Ms Saffin says the Seniors Concession Allowance will increase from $114 to $500, ‘and importantly Labor will set up a National Reciprocal Public Transport Entitlement for State Government Senior’s Card holders.
“Federal Labor understands the needs of seniors in Page. These allowances help with the bills when the bills come in, but they also help with the important areas of communication and transport,” she said.
“Many seniors in Page have family in other parts of the country and these allowances help them keep in touch. Under Labor, when seniors from Page visit other parts of Australia they will be able to use their concession cards interstate.”
Ms Saffin says before the 2001 election Prime Minister Howard pledged a national transport concession scheme for seniors but he did not deliver.
“I’d like to ask National Party candidate Chris Gulaptis why he can’t hold his Coalition leader to his promises,” she said.
