RESIDENTS UNITE TO STOP PREMIER FROM GOUGING CARBON PRICE SUPPLEMENT FROM PENSIONERS

MEDIA RELEASE, Friday, 20 April 2012

Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek MP
Adam Searle, Shadow Minister for Housing
Penny Sharpe MLC, Labor Duty MLC for Sydney

RESIDENTS UNITE TO STOP PREMIER FROM GOUGING CARBON PRICE SUPPLEMENT FROM PENSIONERS

Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek MP, Shadow Minister for Housing Adam Searle and Duty MLC for Sydney, Penny Sharpe today joined residents at the Northcott Estate in Surry Hills to launch a petition calling on the O'Farrell Government not to increase public housing rents when the pension is increased to offset costs associated with the carbon tax.

The O'Farrell Government has refused rule out hiking up public housing rents when the carbon pricing supplement flows through to pensioners next month.

"This is just another cash grab from a heartless State Government that doesn't care about pensioners," Shadow Housing Minister, Adam Searle said today.

"Single pensioners are set receive around $338 each year and pensioner couples around $510 each year from the Commonwealth to meet any increase in costs as a result of the carbon pricing scheme.

"This extra money is designed to help pensioners meet any increased costs associated with putting a price on carbon. Other families and workers will receive supplements to help meet additional costs, but the people who need it most will be left without under the O'Farrell Government.

"Instead of allowing pensioners in public housing to use this money as intended, the O'Farrell Government looks set to rip it away by increasing public housing rents," Mr Searle added.

Member for Sydney, Tanya Plibersek MP said the O'Farrell Government had form when it came to taking money away from people living on a fixed income.

"In 2009, Federal Labor delivered an historic boost to the pension and Mr O'Farrell took that pension increase away from pensioners by increasing rents," Ms Plibersek said.

"Mr O'Farrell increased rents in 2009 by up to $618 a year. I opposed his rent hike then and will continue to oppose any move by the State Government to take the carbon supplement away from pensioners.

"The petition calls on the O'Farrell Government not to increase public housing rent when the pension is supplemented by the Federal Government."  

Duty MLC for Sydney, Penny Sharpe said that the NSW Opposition hoped to attract 10,000 signatures to the petition to ensure the State Government would have to debate this in the NSW Parliament.

Local resident, Graham Brecht, who was at the launch today said: "This government has already cut the wages of Police, teachers and nurses and now Mr O'Farrell wants to marginalise pensioners as well."

"We are not asking for much from Mr O'Farrell, just a fair go.

"Well done Barry. Who's next?"

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