Pension cards invalidated, says Moran

A number of local senior citizens will be forced to tear up their pension concession cards, according to Labor Candidate for Robertson Ms Trish Moran.

She said this was the result of a Howard Government crackdown on the elderly.

"Some will be asked to pay the Federal Government around $2500," Ms Moran said.

"Given the high proportion of seniors on the Peninsula, it is likely that a significant number of the 268 seniors in the Robertson electorate who will lose their concession cards are in the area.

"While giving tax cuts to the wealthy, John Howard is unfairly hitting our most vulnerable elderly people in the hip pocket.

"The Howard Costello Government is hounding local pensioners to recover Centrelink payments."

The pensioner concession card entitles the holder to concessions including: reduction in property and rental rates, reduction in energy bills, a telephone allowance, reductions on motor vehicle registration, one or more free rail journeys within the state each year and reduced Fares on Public Transport.

Ms Moran said that an estimated 268 seniors in Robertson would be told that their pensioner concession card is no longer valid.

"These are people on fixed incomes who are finding it hard enough to make ends meet," she said.

"And we are yet to hear the Member for Robertson (Mr Jim Lloyd) come out and support them.

"I challenge him to join me in my fight to have this decision reversed for local pensioners," she said.

Press release, July 22 Trish Moran, Labor Candidate for Robertson