Victoria’s political leaders have been given notice that pensioners expect answers to a raft of proposals put forward by the Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition (FGFP) – a lobby group determined to protect the state’s most vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The FGFP has put forward a detailed agenda for the state’s political parties to consider in the run up to elections in November, and will present a petition on Wednesday to State Parliament to back their claims.

The group is asking the parties to confirm their positions on five specific proposals: the reintroduction of concessions on vehicle registration; standardising seasonal utility concession rates – to recognise the importance of both heating and cooling for seniors’ welfare; an increase in concession rates for utilities and council fees generally; and free public transport for all concession card holders, at least in off-peak hours.

At the national level, the FGFP is calling on the federal government to increase social security income support over the next four years to 35 per cent of male total average earnings, and for the Newstart Allowance to be raised by $50 per week for single people.

FGFP – a broad coalition of community-based organisations and volunteers that formed in the late 1990s – has recently widened its campaigning to include single-parents and the unemployed.


To help pay for higher income support to the less well-off, the pensioners coalition has also appealed for tax loopholes to be sewn up, with the FGFP asking for tax superannuation concessions for high income earners (earning $100,000 or more a year) to be abolished.


Helping those on low-incomes increase their superannuation savings is another intervention the group would like to see the federal government adopt, by re-instating the low-income super contribution abolished last July. With deep concerns over seniors being forced to take out reverse mortgages in an effort to stay afloat, the FGFP is calling for regulations to be introduced to protect people from embarking on such a drastic course of action.

FGFP Victoria spokesman George Zangalis told Neos Kosmos:

“We’re trying to influence both the federal budget and the state budget, and with the state election later in the year, we’ve asked the leaders of all the main parties to meet with us to outline their policies and respond to our claims”.

“It’s hard for pensioners and it’s becoming even harder, with concession rates not keeping up with real costs,” said Mr Zangalis (83), who is a member of FGFP Victoria’s steering committee.

Speculation that means-testing formulas may be changed to make family homes qualify as an asset in the calculation of federal social security payments is a further concern, says Mr Zangalis.

“The federal government is about to descend upon social security payments, and they’re looking to pensioners and other retirees as a means of reducing further whatever inadequate services they provide. We’re extremely concerned.”

FGFP plan to hold a public rally outside the State Library of Victoria on May 21 to promote their ongoing campaign.