JENNY MACKLIN MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR FAMILIES & PAYMENTS SHADOW MINISTER FOR DISABILITY REFORM MEMBER FOR

JAGAJAGA
MEDIA RELEASE HOCKEYS AGE OF UNCERTAINTY FOR AGE PENSIONERS Joe Hockey must explain to Australian pensioners what his plans are for the Age Pension, after comments yesterday left them in fear that they are going to have their pensions cut. Senior Australians deserve absolute certainty about the levels of support they will receive in retirement. The Treasurer must confirm immediately that no pensioner will be left worse off under any changes made by this Government. This is Joe Hockeys age of uncertainty for people who rely on the Age Pension. We already know the Government is going to cut support to people with disability and the unemployed. We know they are going to abolish the Schoolkids Bonus and the Income Support Bonus. Now it seems the Age Pension may be the next to be cut. This is a government that will not hesitate to make savage cuts to support for vulnerable Australians. But true to form, the Government hasnt done any policy work and has refused to be honest with the Australian people about exactly who will be affected and by how much. All this does is leave people uncertain about how they will be affected. What we do know is that while the Abbott Government continues to slash support for people with disability, the unemployed and pensioners, they are happily proceeding with their unfair and unaffordable Paid Parental Leave scheme that will give $75,000 to wealthy women to have a baby. SATURDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2014