Pensioners Query Tax
The Age
Saturday August 15, 1998
CANBERRA
Pensioner groups yesterday urged the Government to spell out which services affecting older Australians would attract a GST and called for a revised consumer price index.
Increasingly sceptical that they will be better off under the tax reforms, pensioner groups say the Government has left too many things for ``further negotiation" and not spelt out exactly what benefits they would get.
The Australian Pensioners and Superannuants Federation, representing some of the poorest older Australians, said state housing bodies and nursing homes would claw back 20 to 25 per cent of pension increases.
Its policy adviser, Mr Gerard Thomas, said many services, such as meals on wheels, were contracted out, and despite Government assurances that there would be no GST on health and community services, he could not give a commitment to members. The federation wants the Government to develop a separate index for pensioners that recognises their high cost of living.
The Australian Retired Persons Association's national policy director, Ms Licia Kocinski, said she was disappointed the Government was trying to divide self-funded retirees from pensioners and part-pensioners.
© 1998 The Age