Janelle Saffin remains mute as Rudd’s Razor Gang secretly plans to cut bonuses for seniors and carers

March 10, 2008

The Nationals Federal Member for Cowper, Luke Hartsuyker, today called on Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, to stand up for seniors and carers in her electorate by opposing plans to scrap annual bonus payments to the two groups.

 

Speculation continues that the Rudd Government will scrap the $500 bonus payment to seniors, the $1,000 bonus payment for recipients of the Carer’s Payment and the $600 for those receiving the Carer’s Allowance.

 

Mr Hartsuyker said Janelle Saffin had remained very quiet whilst her Federal colleagues were secretly drafting this plan.

 

“Since it was revealed the Rudd Government’s Razor Gang was planning to scrap these bonuses Ms Saffin has been mute on the issue.

 

“Janelle Saffin needs to stand up for tens of thousand of people who will be affected in her electorate.

“The Page electorate has 16,700 aged pensioners, 3,950 recipients of the Carer’s Payment and more than 1,300 people who receive the Carers Allowance.

 

“I am calling on Ms Saffin to publicly oppose the scrapping of the seniors and carers bonus and send a clear message to Mr Rudd’s Razor Gang that such a plan would significantly impact many of her constituents.”

 

Mr Hartsuyker said the bonus payments introduced by the Coalition Government provided lump sum payments which helped recipients purchase day to day necessities.

 

“Many of these people struggle to meet the day to day costs of living and will be hard hit by any plan which reduces their annual payments.

 

“At a time when Australia is enjoying national prosperity the Rudd Government is showing that it is losing touch with the needs of the elderly and those who provide ongoing care to someone in need.”

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