A decade of Liberal Government has seen pensioners under constant attack. The Government has slashed $1 billion in pensioner concessions, kicked many part-pensioners off the pension altogether and tried to scrap the Energy Supplement for 1.5 million pensioners.
We know the Liberals want to keep older Australians working longer, because they spent five years trying to raise the pension age to 70.
Now, older Australians are facing soaring prices – age pensioners’ cost of living has risen at its fastest pace in 15 years.
An Albanese Labor Government will freeze deeming rates at their current levels for two years, protecting around 900,000 aged pensioners and other pension recipients from interest rate rises and making sure pensioners can keep more money in their pockets.
Labor will also help with the cost of living by expanding eligibility to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Cards to 50,000 more older Australians.
Having a Seniors Health Card can mean cheaper medicine under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; bulk billed doctor visits – if your doctor extends eligibility to Seniors Health Card holders; and a refund for medical costs when you reach the Medicare Safety Net.
Australians who hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card are often also eligible for discounts on property and water rates, electricity and gas bills, ambulance, dental, eye care and public transport.
Labor will also help people make their pension go further by delivering:
Labor understands pensioners know how to manage their own money, so we’ll scrap the Morrison Government’s privatised Cashless Debit Card so older Australians don’t need to worry.
And Labor will end the Morrison Government’s neglect of aged care, to make sure older Australians are treated with the respect they deserve. We’ll put a registered nurse in every aged care home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; we will increase the amount of time carers have to care; and we’ll make sure there’s better food in aged care homes.
