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| Attention Australian PENSIONERS | ||
| Edward S 497347 | 28-Jul-21 04:52 am | |
| I am in the process of fighting the Australian Federal Government to start giving us pensioners a much better deal and to take us off their "Forget about them" pile. Based on the actions of this government since the global covid-19 pandemic reached Australia in early 2020; I have estimated that the Australian Federal Government owes each and every pensioner between $3000 and $5000 plus a decent increase in our fortnightly pension payments AND an increase in Rent Assistance payments in accordance with how much rents have increased between 2007 and now. I am about to contact "The Age" newspaper to give them a story about the plight of pensioners ( the forgotten ones ) and the plight of small business owners and the unemployed, in the hope that "The Age" newspaper will publish the story and pressure the government to do what is right. The last decent increase we, the pensioners had received from the government was Kevin Rudd in 2007 / 08 but since then, the average rent has increased by $ 140 a week ( $ 280 a fortnight ), gas and electricity prices have more than doubled, cost of water, groceries, internet, taxis, and petrol has all also massively increased, Rent Assistance has not increased for about 10 years. Pensioners usually receive 2 payment increases a year. I do not know how much couples increases are but the average increase for "Singles" is usually between $10 and $12 a fortnight. ( YES fortnight even though average rent increases by $10 a week )..... In late 2020, the government refused to give pensioners our increase and had instead replaced it with 2 once-off payments of $250 to make it look like they were giving us a "Covid-19" Stimulus payment.....When in fact that has robbed us pensioners of about $ 10 per fortnight for the rest of our lives. At the same time they increased the unemployment payments from $550 a fortnight to $ 1100 per fortnight, thus DOUBLING those payments......Whilst really giving pensioners NOTHING extra. Although the unemployment benefits have now been cut back to about $750 a fortnight, that is still an increase of $200 a fortnight compared to what they were getting.....Whilst pensioners received NO increase. Whilst the unemployed were being paid $1100 a fortnight, that was MORE than what the average single pensioner was receiving. The pensioners were NOT really given any covid "Stimulus" package payment because the 2 payments of $250 was really just a part of the increase they refused to give pensioners in late 2020. Then when we were due for an increase in early 2021 the government further insulted single pensioners by giving us an increase of $ 6 per fortnight ( slightly more for couples ). During all of this, ALL of the State and Federal politicians received massive pay increases. Pensioners are the people who always struggle to survive financially, therefore, we go without a lot of things, which means that Australia's economy would benefit much more IF the Federal Government gave pensioners a "Stimulus" package because we are more likely to spend it. In addition to that, IF the government really wants to stimulate the economy and create jobs on an ongoing basis for years to come, then they need to give pensioners a decent increase, so we can have money to spend. I want to know if you, as a pensioner support this fight against the government to get a better deal for pensioners and if you can do anything at your end to help with this fight? | ||
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