June 5, 2014
Just two days after announcing that it would pass on to pensioners Federal Government cutbacks, the State Government has back-flipped.
Premier Campbell Newman said today the State Government had listened to Queenslanders’ concerns and would act.
The decision means pensioners who benefit from concession payments will not suffer any reduction in payments as a result of cuts announced in the Federal Budget.
If the State Budget decision had not been reversed, it would have meant South Burnett pensioners would have paid an extra $30 on their Council rates.
“Pensioners and older Queenslanders have told us that they simply can’t wear the cost of filling the gap between Queensland’s increased contribution, and the Commonwealth Government’s concessions cuts and increased fees and taxes,” Mr Newman said.
“That’s why today I’m announcing that we’ve not only listened to Queenslanders, but we’ve acted, within the space of two days, to reinstate the full level of pensioner and senior concessions.
“Passing on part of the Commonwealth’s cuts to pensioner concessions is clearly not an acceptable outcome for Queenslanders.”
Mr Newman said the Commonwealth should be bearing the burden of these cuts, not Queenslanders.
“We will be continuing to send a clear message to the Commonwealth that Queenslanders won’t stand for these kinds of cuts,” he said.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade Tim Nicholls said the State Government was still considering the impact of Commonwealth decisions on the State Budget, but Queenslanders had put a strong case for the government not to pass on the unexpected cuts delivered by the Commonwealth.
“It is the Commonwealth Government that’s caused this problem with pensioner cuts and increased charges,” Mr Nicholls said.
“We’re very conscious of the ‘double whammy’ impact of the Federal Government’s changes to pensions and the removal of concessions funding,” Mr Nicholls said.
“So we will be looking at all opportunities to withhold and recoup funding from Commonwealth programs and initiatives that they ask States to contribute to from time to time, to make up for the shortfall they’ve created.”
