Federal Member for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis, has hit out at the scare campaign that is being directed at the region’s pensioners.
“Pensions will still go up twice a year, every year, in line with the cost of living. There is no change to this,” Mrs Sudmalis said
“The family home will continue to be excluded from the pension assets test. There is no change to this.
“All pensioners will continue to have access to a health care card.”
Mrs Sudmalis has offered to meet three representatives from the protest to discuss pension changes at 3pm today.
“Australian Pensioners and their families should not believe the scare campaign from an organisation not even willing to put its name to the robo calls,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
The scare campaign is unwarranted, because around 90 per cent of pensioners will be better off or not affected by the changes introduced to make the age pension more sustainable, she said.
The changes introduced were based on extensive stakeholder consultation with groups like ACOSS and COTA.
“We respect the contribution senior Australians have made over their lifetimes,” Mrs Sudmalis said.
“In 2015, we acted to make the pension more sustainable, but we also lifted the assets test free area meaning around 170,000 Australians with modest levels of assets will access more age pension than before.”
Mrs Sudmalis is organising a series of forums across Gilmore in February to help clarify how the changes will affect people.
Anyone with concerns regarding their age pensions should contact Centrelink’s aged services line on 132 300. Media Release
