Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to draw the parliament's attention to the plight of one of my constituents—let's call him John. John is an 85-year-old pensioner who lives in North Sydney. He has passionately advocated about the impossible position he and many others find themselves in during their latter years, trying to survive on the age pension. John has done everything right. He's worked hard, paid his taxes, educated his kids and paid off the mortgage on a modest flat. Now he's a pensioner living independently in his own home. But while John is asset rich, his sole income on a single pension is just $500 a week. And just as John has asked me on many occasions, I now ask the parliament: how does someone live comfortably on that amount with limited to no potential to earn additional income?

John has tried to find work to supplement his pension, but at the age of 85 the pickings are slim and, heartbreakingly, the experience of applying for jobs has been demoralising. He's been spoken to rudely and even hung up on. As he said, in his own words, 'I haven't been so insulted in my whole life.' In this context, I implore the government to reflect deeply on our social services framework, particularly the plight of pensioners who are being crushed by the rising cost of living. If recipients of Australian Commonwealth welfare are not safe from poverty then we have some serious soul searching to do.