Steve Georganas (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak today on Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009 and related legislation and to support the government’s budget. This is the first budget of the Rudd Labor government, which has honoured all its election commitments to take practical action in assisting all Australians—older Australians, working families, those on fixed incomes and everyone in the community—with the rising cost of living. This budget will assist our older citizens and those on fixed incomes, including disability support pensioners and carers. It will assist with the day-to-day living expenses and the living pressures that they face. This budget also introduced the $55 billion Working Families Support Package to assist those families in need of support.

The electorate of Hindmarsh, which I represent, has some 25,000 people aged over 65. We know that approximately 218,000 people born in 1945 or 1946 turned 60 in the 2005-06 financial year, and it is estimated that the number of persons aged over 65 will more than double by 2051. There is no doubt that as a society we should always appreciate the economic and social contributions of our older Australians. In addition to their continued work in retirement, many elderly citizens have worked hard throughout the majority of their lives. Some served our country in times of war and others worked very hard either caring for their family or bringing in a decent income for their family to survive. In four years of being a federal member of parliament I have greatly benefited from the relationships I have formed with many of the older residents in my electorate. It is now time to give something back to the elderly in our society, who have contributed and who continue to contribute to our great nation.

That is why there is a commitment in the government’s very first budget to spend over $4.1 billion to help older Australians. That includes a $500 one-off payment for eligible seniors. With the introduction of superannuation under the Hawke-Keating government—something I am very proud to know was introduced to this parliament by the party I belong to—we have seen an increasing number of retirees with a part pension and of fully self-funded retirees, which is a good thing. We are hoping that as people take up the superannuation that has been offered over the last 18-odd years there will be more people funding their retirements and being self-funded retirees.

Nevertheless, there are still a substantial number of seniors who rely solely on the pension. Many of these people may pay rent and be repaying debt. For many of these retirees access to utilities is of utmost concern. That is why this budget will see an increase in the utilities allowance, the seniors concession allowance and the telephone allowance. The budget will inject $3.7 billion into increasing the utilities allowance to $500 for eligible singles and couples per household. This will aid payment of household costs such as energy, rates, and water and sewerage. This is the first time that the utilities allowance will be extended to other eligible persons on the carer payment, the disability support pension, the widow B pension and the wife pension as well as bereavement allowance recipients in addition to current eligible recipients. An increase in the utilities allowance will address the hardship that is inflicted on pensioners who, in many cases, cannot afford to keep the electricity on in winter. We continuously hear horror stories of pensioners’ fear that they will not be able to afford the ever-increasing costs of their bills. I was shocked to hear of people who in winter sit in the dark without a heater on to save on these costs. The extension of the utilities allowance will assist more individuals and families to make ends meet, especially those in severe financial hardship.

I turn now to the proposed increase in the seniors concession allowance. This will be a welcome relief to great numbers of retirees within my electorate of Hindmarsh and across Australia. The seniors concession allowance for retirees will increase to $500 a year. These payments will be paid every three months so they will arrive in the pockets of pensioners in time to pay their many household bills. The increase in the seniors concession allowance will ease some of their concerns. Those who are eligible and are holders of seniors health care cards will now have additional funds every quarter to ease the pressure of daily living costs. We also understand that one of the challenges facing older Australians is remaining connected to their communities. My electorate of Hindmarsh has one of the largest numbers of single households in the country—mainly older Australians, residents who prefer to remain in their own homes as they age. In many cases, this contributes towards their isolation. As such, the threat of isolation for many elderly residents is very real. It is perpetuated by poor access to information regarding services, events within their local communities and assistance that could be offered to them.

The budget will increase the current telephone allowance by 50 per cent for eligible seniors, carers, people with disabilities and other eligible individuals. This increase will encourage more elderly Australians and others on fixed incomes to go online to remain in touch with family members and community groups. Inevitably, the internet will play an increasingly larger role in seniors remaining up to date with what is happening within their immediate community and the broader Australian community. Statistics continue to show that the fastest-growing audience to take advantage of the internet is the elderly. Whether their connection is through email or updates on community based web pages, this allowance will assist older Australians to remain engaged and will encourage lifelong learning—which many older Australians are taking up at an increasing rate. Those individuals who are in receipt of a disability support pension, who are eligible for the allowance, will also benefit as physical or cognitive disabilities will not be barriers to them keeping in touch with their community. With the benefits of the internet clearly visible, the government will establish a seniors internet fund to encourage older Australians to enjoy the benefits of the internet.

Additionally, the government has committed $50 million to introduce a national seniors transport concession scheme for seniors card holders by 1 January 2009. On this note, when I was first elected, one of the very first people to come and see me was the Hon. Kevin Hamilton, who was the former member for Albert Park. He lobbied me on this—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Debate (on motion by Mr Melham) adjourned.

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