The Australian Greens today renewed calls for an additional $30 per week increase to the single pension, after the scheduled CPI increase was announced today.
"Yesterday, the Senate passed my motion urging the Treasurer Wayne Swan to increase the aged pension to reflect that the cost of living for pensioners is in excess of the CPI," said Senator Rachel Siewert.
"Today's CPI increase, which amounts to an additional $15 per week on the existing pension, is a small step towards helping older Australians in need, but is still a long way from what is needed for Australia's 1.2 million pensioners," she said.
"The Government should be increasing the pension at the same time as this scheduled CPI increase. This would go some way to bringing Australia's pensioners into a better standard of living."
"It is high time the Rudd Government put in place measures that ensure a reasonable standard of living for older Australians," concluded Senator Siewert.
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02/09/2008 (All day)