The local Labor federal MPs have slammed the government for freezing pensions for more than 12 months.
Anne Stanley in Werriwa and Dr Mike Freelander in Macarthur say the decision will hurt pensioners and the economy.
It’s the first time since 1997 pension payments will not be increased nor will they be reviewed again until March next year.
“We know that seniors and less well-off members of our community have been disproportionally affected by this pandemic,’’ says Ms Stanley.
“This move is cruel and heartless – it is the worst possible time to be squeezing already stretched household budgets.
“These vulnerable groups have already been hit hard during this pandemic; many were forced to miss out on essentials during the panic buying due to fixed incomes. This freeze will effectively leave them with even less.
“It is deplorable that our parents and grandparents will now go without a rise in the pension for more than 12 months,” Ms Stanley said.
After years of rising power, grocery and health costs and amidst a global pandemic, Dr Freelander says that the rejection of a payment increase cannot come at a worse time for pensioners in South Western Sydney.
“During this highly stressful period of job losses, financial insecurity and rising emotional tensions, now is not the time to be making further financial cutbacks from already struggling households,” he said.
“These payments go back into the economy and stimulate wages and employment; without them, there is the potential for further employment losses from services that rely on recipients being able to afford their work.”
Ms Stanley said the Coalition Government had tried to cut the pension or increase the pension age to 70 in every single budget since they were elected in 2013, and had also cut $1 billion from pensioner concessions.
