Wangaratta Pensioners to get a say
Wangaratta chosen to review Federal Government policy
Written by PHILIP NOLAN.
WANGARATTA’S large contingent of pensioners will have a unique chance for a direct say in future federal government pension policies.
The rural city has been named as the only regional centre in Victoria, and one of only three outside capital cities Australia-wide, as the location for a public session as part of a full review of the current pension system.
The review has been ordered by the Federal Minister for Families and Community Services, Jenny Macklin, a former student of the Wangaratta High School.
The review, to be headed by Dr Jeff Farmer, secretary of Ms Macklin’s department, is part of the government’s broader review of Australia’s future tax system.
A recent study has shown that almost 80 per cent of Australians aged 65 and over are surviving on the pension alone.
It found that Australia’s two million pensioners are worse off than seniors in most other affluent countries, with our pension rate below the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development average.
The average length of time for people to be receiving the age pension is 13 years and the single pension rate, at $173 a week, is only 60 per cent of the combined couple rate of $456 a week.
In announcing the review, Ms Macklin said that the vast majority of older Australians are on the pension and most have low levels of assets, with 30 per cent having bank balances of less than $1000.
She said the new review would investigate measures to strengthen the financial security of seniors, carers and people with disability.
These measures would include pension levels, frequency of payments and structure, and payment of concessions and other entitlements.
The community consultation phase of the review will involve public meetings in all capital cities and Newcastle, Rockhampton and Wangaratta.
The Wangaratta meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 23.
Written submissions will also be accepted.
Labels: federal, pensions, wangaratta
posted by Greg Naylor at
3:55 PM
1 Comments:
I am 66 and new to the pension system. I am in that age group just ahead of the 'baby boomers' and, although I have been productively employed throughout my working life, there has been little access to superanuation for most of it.
Like most of my generation, we own our own home but have little else. The review will be welcomed by my generation at least.
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