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Senior Citizens Dudded Again

Country senior citizens have again been discriminated against by the Bracks Government claimed Nationals Eastern Region candidate, PETER HALL.

By news@gippsland - 6th November 2006 - Back to News

He said while the Victorian Government is providing senior citizens with a Seniors Sunday Pass enabling them to travel free on Met trains trams and buses every Sunday, no such free travel pass is available for V/Line or regional bus users.

"Once again the city centric Bracks Government has shown it does not care about country people," Mr Hall said.

"They have jacked-up car registration for pensioners, capped the multi-purpose taxi program and now given city people free public transport but not for us in the country."

Mr Hall said every holder of a Victorian Senior Card should be asking their local Labor members Brendan Jenkins and Ian Maxfield why they have kowtowed to their city colleagues on this issue.

"If I was Mr Jenkins or Mr Maxfield I would hang my head in shame in accepting free transport for city seniors but nothing for country public transport users," Mr Hall said.

"Aren’t they supposed to be representing country seniors?’ Mr Hall posed.

Mr Hall said this refusal to acknowledge the needs of elderly people living in the country was symptomatic of how the Bracks Government failed to understand the thoughts and aspirations of country people.

"Country people volunteer to operate emergency services, we volunteer to care for our family members with disabilities, we are happy to supply the State with water, electricity and food, but in return we expect to be treated with respect and equality," Mr Hall said.

"That is clearly not happening," he said.

"Instead of spending $1.3 billion on a once a day marginally faster train service, for a fraction of that cost, Bracks could have implanted The Nationals policy of ½ price V/Line fares and provided free Sunday services for all Victorians, not just those living in Melbourne. But who cares? Certainly not Mr Bracks, Mr Jenkins and Mr Maxfield," an irate Mr Hall concluded.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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