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Pensioner Concessions Should Be Retained: NatsThe Nationals are pushing hard for the State Government to retain pensioner concessions for car registrations.The Nationals are pushing hard for the State Government to retain pensioner concessions for car registrations. By Peter Hall - 15th November 2004 - Back to News Gippsland MP Peter Hall has helped lead the push, speaking strongly in support of amendments to the State Concessions Bill.
The Bill includes an unpopular move to scrap the car registration concession for pensioners, which would cost pensioners an extra $78.50 each year and reap the Government some $280 million a year.
Mr Hall said it was proposed to re-direct the money into public transport, but that did not provide any joy for people in areas like Gippsland.
He told Parliament: "People in country Victoria are going to be severely affected. The only means of transport for many of those who live in country Victoria is private car; we do not have the same public transport services in the country.
"There are limitations now on some of the use of taxis, because a cap has been put on the multipurpose taxi program. It is something like $550 a year. All this is going to accumulate, we think, and unfairly impact on people who live in country Victoria."
Mr Hall added that the change would impact on older people’s ability to travel and enjoy a social life.
"For older people having an interest in life, being able to get out in a motor vehicle and attend functions, whether it be an organised function like a car club function or simply going to the local library or attending a bingo session, their reliance on a car is significant.
"They have no choice. They have to use a motor vehicle to travel around their local communities and beyond."
Mr Hall said that with close to $1 billion in the state coffers, the Government could well afford to maintain a 100 per cent concession on car registrations for all pensioners and concession card holders, as was currently the case.
"We think this is pretty mean-spirited of the government, particularly given the large surpluses it has announced in recent times. "We have had probably more representations on this issue than any other initiative in this year's budget. Of all the issues contained in the budget, this reduction in the registration concession has generated most impact."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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