The cost of living pressures faced by older Victorians was overlooked in Premier Ted Baillieu’s second budget, according to the Shadow Minister for the Cost of Living Lily D’Ambrosio and Shadow Minister for the Seniors and Ageing Jenny Mikakos.
In a statement to the press, Ms D’Ambrosio pointed out that senior Victorians will get an average increase to their pensioners’ rebate of just two per cent, which is drastically below the forecast rate of inflation and because of this “Ted Baillieu is hurting older Victorians”.
“Mr Baillieu’s budget, far from addressing the spiralling cost of living for older Victorians, has made it harder on them through this miserly increase,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
Ms Mikakos went as far to say that Mr Baillieu had “simply given up on cutting the cost of living”.
“If this government cared about easing the cost of living for senior Victorians, Mr Baillieu wouldn’t have broken his promise,” Ms Mikakos said.
“When provided the opportunity in a parliamentary committee to explain why seniors will be stuck with a rebate that is far below inflation, the Premier failed to answer the question.
“Seniors are already paying more for public transport fares, and stamp duty and car registration.”
