The Victorian Baillieu Government has delivered another harsh blow to Victorians, with Mordialloc Chelsea pensioners the latest target. The Baillieu Government has started notifying Victorian pensioner public housing tenants that part of the Federal Labor Government's September 2009 pension increases will be ripped away through increases to their rent.
The Victorian Baillieu Government has delivered another harsh blow to Victorians, with Mordialloc Chelsea pensioners the latest target. The Baillieu Government has started notifying Victorian pensioner public housing tenants that part of the Federal Labor Government's September 2009 pension increases will be ripped away through increases to their rent.
Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Federal Member for Isaacs, today said the Baillieu Government's move to take a share of the Australian Government's historic pension rise, with an increase in public housing rents, would hurt local pensioners.
Parkdale resident Anton Bennett said the Baillieu Government should honour the agreement with the Australian Government and not include pension increases in public housing rent calculations.
"Ted Baillieu and Lorraine Wreford need to understand that the Australian Government's increase to my pension is not for the Victorian Government, but to help me with day-to-day living expenses," Mr Bennett said.
"The decision by the Baillieu Government means that around 38,000 Victorian pensioners living in public housing will have less money to live on, as their rents go up," Mr Dreyfus said.
"When the Australian Government increased the pension in 2009, State and Territory governments agreed to quarantine this amount from rent calculations, to assist pensioners to make ends meet. This protection is now being ripped away by the Baillieu Liberal Government."
Since September 2009, the Australian Government's historic pension reforms have delivered increases to the maximum pension of about $148 per fortnight for singles and $146 per fortnight for couples combined.
Mr Dreyfus called on State Liberal MPs, Lorraine Wreford and Donna Bauer, to demand Mr Baillieu reinstates the agreement to quarantine pension increases from public housing rent calculations.
"They may have turned their backs on Victorian pensioners in public housing, but I'll keep fighting for the 23,900 pensioners in my electorate and making sure they get a fair go," Mr Dreyfus said.
