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The Coalition Government Election 2007 Policy

MORE SUPPORT FOR PENSIONERS, SELF FUNDED RETIREES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS

More Support for Pensioners, Self Funded Retirees, People with Disabilities and their Carers

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MORE SUPPORT FOR PENSIONERS, SELF FUNDED RETIREES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................. 2

PART 1 MORE HELP FOR AGE PENSIONERS............ 5

PART 2 SUPPORTING CARERS................................ 7

PART 3 SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES .... 8

PART 4 MORE HELP FOR SELF FUNDED RETIREES... 9

PART 5 COST OF LIVING GUARANTEE ‐ A NEW SAFETY NET .................................. 10

PART 6 CLIMATE CHANGE AND PENSIONERS........... 11

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS.. 12

LABOR’S ALTERNATIVE............................................ 15

COSTINGS SUMMARY ............................................... 18

THE COALITION’S PLAN FOR STRONGER COMMUNITIES

More Support for Pensioners, Self Funded Retirees, People with Disabilities and their Carers

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Coalition recognises the contribution older Australians have made and continue to make to our society.

In 2004 the Coalition announced a Utilities Allowance to be paid to older Australians of Age Pension age receiving income support, including veterans, to help them with the cost of household bills. We also introduced a Seniors Concession Allowance for self funded retirees who do not receive pensioner concessions.

In the 2006-07 Budget the Coalition provided a bonus payment equal to the annual amount of Utilities Allowance to each person of Age Pension age eligible for the allowance. Utilities Allowance was also extended to other groups of older Australians, recipients of Mature Age Allowance, Partner Allowance and Widow Allowance, who also received the bonus.

In the 2007-08 Budget the Coalition provided a one off seniors bonus payment of $500 to everyone of Age or Service Pension age eligible for the Utilities Allowance or the Seniors Concession Allowance.

These payments have only been made possible because the Government’s disciplined management has delivered a strong and growing economy.

Today we announce that a re-elected Coalition Government will increase and extend the Utilities Allowance.

OLDER AUSTRALIANS

The Utilities Allowance for older Australians will be increased from $107.20 to $500 a year for a single and $500 a year for a couple from 20 March 2008. This increase will benefit more than two million older Australians on income support at a cost of $2.7 billion over four years.

CARERS

The Coalition recognises the vital role that carers play in our society and the tremendous emotional and financial burden they carry.

A re-elected Coalition Government will extend the Utilities Allowance for the first time ever to all carers in receipt of Carer Payment from 20 March 2008. Around 120,000 carers will benefit from the extension at a cost of $183 million over four years.

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DISABILITY SUPPORT PENSIONERS

The Coalition is committed to ensuring that vulnerable members of our society do not miss out on the benefits that a strong economy is delivering.

Recognising that many people in receipt of Disability Support Pension are profoundly disabled and unable to benefit from the current strong labour market, a re-elected Coalition Government will pay the Utilities Allowance to all Disability Support pensioners. More than 700,000 pensioners will benefit at a cost of $841 million over four years.

SELF FUNDED RETIREES

The Coalition also recognises the contribution self funded retirees have made to their own retirement.

Where Labor State Governments have failed to extend important Seniors Concessions to self funded retirees, the Coalition has extended eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to around 250,000 older Australians whose retirement is self funded.

A re-elected Coalition Government will increase the Seniors Concession Allowance paid to self funded retirees. Seniors Concession Allowance will more than double to $500 from June 2008 benefiting around 250,000 self funded retirees at a cost of $227 million over four years.

THE COALITION’S PLAN FOR STRONGER COMMUNITIES

We are committed to easing the pressures on the cost of living for vulnerable Australians, particularly as the drought and other one-off weather events, such as frosts, have contributed to higher food prices.

A re-elected Coalition Government will guarantee that, if living costs for pensioners increase faster than general inflation or wages, pensions will be topped up to ensure pensioners are fully compensated for increases in the cost of living.

The Coalition is committed to investing in initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the effects of climate change. A re-elected Coalition Government will use some of the proceeds of a new Climate Change Fund to lessen the impact on pensioners and other low income households of the move to a carbon constrained world.

Older Australians, people with disabilities and their carers will benefit from increased assistance totalling almost $4 billion over the next four years, part of the Coalition’s plan for stronger communities.

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This package does not mean an end to the one off bonuses the Coalition Government has paid in recent years to older Australians and carers. A re-elected Coalition will continue to consider paying bonuses in the future depending on the economic circumstances at the time.

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PART 1 MORE HELP FOR AGE PENSIONERS

The Coalition is keeping faith with those whose contribution to Australia deserves our nation’s gratitude. The Coalition believes it is only fair that older Australians benefit from strong economic management and are supported in maintaining their lifestyle.

Older Australians have benefited from the higher pension payments as a result of the Coalition’s decision to legislate to link pensions to the growth in wages. This decision has meant that pensioners are able to share in the growth in community living standards.

By linking pensions to rises in male total average weekly earnings single pensioners are now better off by $72.80 every fortnight. Partnered pensioners are better off by $122.60 every fortnight than they would have been under Labor’s adhoc approach to increasing pensions.

Over a year this means a single pensioner is better off by $1,892 and partnered pensioners are better off by $3,187. The Coalition Government acted quickly in 1997 to implement this long overdue guarantee for older Australians.

However the Coalition recognises that older Australians in receipt of income support may experience difficulty in saving to pay for regular household expenses such as the gas or power bill. It also concerns the Coalition that measures like the ACT’s utility tax are being introduced by Labor and measuring the cost of energy and water bills.

In 2004 the Coalition announced the introduction of the Utilities Allowance ‐ a twice yearly payment to older Australians in receipt of income support to assist them with paying their household bills.

A re-elected Coalition Government will increase the Utilities Allowance to older Australians of Age Pension age receiving income support. The Utilities Allowance will increase from $107.20 to $500 a year for a single and $500 a year for a couple from 20 March 2008.

This increase to Utilities Allowance will benefit more than 2 million older Australians at a cost of $2.7 billion over four years. Utilities Allowance is paid to Australians of Age (or Veteran) Pension age in receipt of income support, including people on Age Pension, Veterans Service Pension or Income Support Supplement, and War Widow Pensioners. It is also paid to recipients of Mature Age Allowance, Partner Allowance and Widow Allowance and to people of Age Pension age receiving Disability Support Pension or Carer Payment.

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This will provide additional help over and above the benefits provided through their concession cards, which include access to cheaper pharmaceuticals.

Strong economic management has also meant that the Coalition has been able to deliver bonuses to older Australians in the last two Budgets. If re-elected the Coalition will consider continuing to pay these bonuses, depending on the economic circumstances at the time.

Centrelink and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will pay the increased Utilities Allowance in two instalments per year as it is currently paid, from 20 March and 20 September.

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PART 2 SUPPORTING CARERS

The Coalition recognises the vital role carers play in our society and the tremendous financial and emotional burden they carry. In the 2007-08 Budget, for the fourth consecutive year, a $1,000 lump sum carer bonus was provided in recognition of the invaluable work of those who care for people with a disability or the frail aged.

A re-elected Coalition Government will extend the Utilities Allowance to all recipients of Carer Payment. Currently only recipients of Carer Payment who are of Age Pension age receive this payment. The Utilities Allowance will be $500 a year for a single and $500 a year for a couple. More than 120,000 Carer Payment recipients will receive this payment for the first time from 20 March 2008 at a cost of $183 million over four years. This will be subject to the passage of legislation.

The vital caring responsibilities of Australia’s carers mean that they miss out on the opportunities offered by a strong economy and labour market. This may mean that they face difficulty in saving for regular household expenses. The Coalition is committed to ensuring they are able to maintain the lifestyle they deserve.

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PART 3 SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

The Coalition Government remains firmly committed to assisting people with a disability and their families. We want to ensure that vulnerable Australians share in the improvements in general community living standards that our strong economy is delivering.

To help support vulnerable members of our society, the Coalition Government announced a new $1.8 billion package of assistance for people with disabilities and their families in June 2007. This included increasing support for older carers through respite and accommodation, help for younger people with a disability, and investment in employment services.

Many people in receipt of Disability Support Pension are profoundly disabled and are unable to take advantage of the employment opportunities offered by the strong economy delivered by the Coalition. These people find it difficult to make ends meet when saving to pay for household bills such as electricity or gas.

A re-elected Coalition Government will extend eligibility to the Utilities Allowance for the first time to all Disability Support pensioners, regardless of age. Utilities Allowance is already paid to Disability Support pensioners who are of Age Pension age. The allowance will be $500 a year for a single and $500 a year for a couple. From 20 March 2008 more than 700,000 people will receive this payment at a cost of $841 million over four years. This will be subject to the passage of legislation.

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PART 4 MORE HELP FOR SELF FUNDED RETIREES

The Coalition recognises the contribution that self funded retirees have made in providing for their own retirement.

That is why the Coalition has provided more self funded retirees with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to give them access to cheaper pharmaceuticals and a range of other concessions. Around 250,000 older Australians currently hold this card. In contrast, only 35,000 people held the card when Labor left office in 1996.

Unwilling to wait for State and Territory Governments to provide self funded retirees with the concessions they deserve, and which people receiving the Age Pension had been enjoying for many years, the Coalition introduced a new Seniors Concession Allowance in 2004. The Seniors Concession Allowance is currently $214 per year.

A re-elected Coalition Government will more than double the Seniors Concession Allowance to $500 per year for around 250,000 holders of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. The first payments will be made from June 2008 at a cost of $227 million over four years. This is subject to the passage of legislation.

The Seniors Concession Allowance recognises that most self funded retirees do not receive concessions for energy, rates, water and sewerage and motor vehicle registration from state and territory governments. Self funded retirees have worked hard throughout their lives to provide for their retirement and deserve to share in the economic prosperity they helped to create.

This measure ensures that older Australians who have saved for their retirement receive similar concessional benefits to age pensioners.

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PART 5 COST OF LIVING GUARANTEE ‐ A NEW SAFETY NET

A re-elected Coalition Government will guarantee that, if living costs for pensioners increase faster than general inflation or wages, pensions will be topped up to ensure pensioners are fully compensated for increases in the cost of living.

The Living Cost Index for Age Pensioner Households published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in August each year will be used to determine if household costs for pensioners rise faster than for other sections of the community. This index uses a basket of goods which reflects pensioners’ particular household spending patterns compared to the consumer price index which reflects general consumer prices across the whole economy.

The guarantee will commence with the publication of the 2008 Living Cost Index for Age Pensioner Households. As there are not specific forecasts or projections for the Living Cost Index for Age Pensioner Households, it is not possible to estimate whether the safety net will be needed over the next four years.

This safety net is part of the Coalition’s Plan for Stronger Communities. It will provide pensioners with greater peace of mind that their incomes will keep pace with increases in the cost of items that make up their household budget.

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PART 6 CLIMATE CHANGE AND PENSIONERS

The Coalition is committed to investing in initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address the effects of climate change. Earlier this year the Coalition announced we would implement a national emissions trading scheme to commence no later than 2012. It will be the most comprehensive scheme in the world.

A re-elected Coalition Government will establish a Climate Change Fund. Revenue from the auctioning of permits under the emissions trading scheme will go into the Fund. The Fund will be used to help manage the impact of climate change. The Fund will also be used to support the development and adoption of the latest zero and low emissions technology which improves our environment and provides clean energy. Ongoing energy security will be essential if we are to continue to grow the economy and improve the living standards of all Australians.

One of the inevitable impacts of a low carbon economy is that we will have to pay higher electricity and other charges. A re-elected Coalition Government will use some of the proceeds of the Fund to lessen the impact of the move to a carbon constrained world on pensioners and other low income households.

A re-elected Coalition Government will manage the transition to a low-carbon economy, as part of our plan to address climate change, while looking after those Australians least able to absorb increases to household bills.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS

COALITION GOVERNMENT ACHIEVEMENTS 1996-2007

Through strong economic management and budget surpluses, the Coalition Government has been able to extend real benefits to older Australians.

PENSIONERS

The Coalition Government has provided real increases to Age Pensions through strong economic management. In 1997 the Coalition Government legislated to set the maximum single rate of pension to at least 25 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings. Single pensioners are $72.80 a fortnight better off and partnered pensioners are $122.60 a fortnight better off than they would have otherwise been. Over a year this means a single pensioner is better off by $1,892 and partnered pensioners are better off by $3,187.

In July 2000, as part of the introduction of the new tax system, the Coalition Government delivered a permanent 2 per cent increase of the pension rate. This equates to $18.30 for singles and $15.30 for couples per fortnight. As a result of this measure, the maximum single rate pensioner has an extra $475.80 a year in their pockets.

The Coalition Government cut the rate at which pensions are reduced due to other income from 50 cents in every dollar to 40 cents. This change means that pensioners can now keep more of any extra income they earn.

Moving from home to aged care is often difficult for older Australians. That is why, from 1 July 2005, to further assist older Australians moving into residential aged care, the Coalition Government exempted accommodation bonds from the pension assets test. Exempting accommodation bonds means the amount a person pays to enter aged care is not assessed when determining a person’s entitlement to the Age Pension and can result in more pension being paid.

To help older Australians in rural areas the Coalition Government has, subject to certain criteria, relaxed the assets test. This measure has increased the amount of land that can be exempt from the assets test from two hectares to encompass all land on the same title as the pensioner' s principal home.

The Coalition Government has been able to extend the benefits of a strong economy to older Australians in many ways. In 2004 the Coalition introduced the Utilities Allowance, a twice yearly payment to help older Australians in receipt of income support to assist them pay their household bills.

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In the 2007-08 Budget the Coalition Government delivered a one-off non-taxable bonus payment of $500 to each senior Australian qualified for the Utilities Allowance or Seniors Concession Allowance. Over 2 million older Australians received the bonus. The Coalition Government also delivered a bonus payment in the 2006-07 Budget.

The Coalition Government has introduced significant changes to superannuation. As part of this plan, people aged 60 and over pay no tax on any superannuation payout from a taxed fund.

In addition, from 20 September 2007, the Coalition has halved the rate at which pensions are reduced where people have significant assets beyond the family home. This change benefits around 300,000 Australians over the age of 65 who are now receiving a larger pension or have become eligible for the pension for the first time.

SELF FUNDED RETIREES

Due to the refusal of Labor State Governments to extend concessions to seniors, in 2004 the Coalition Government introduced the Senior Concession Allowance to holders of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, benefiting more than 250,000 self funded retirees.

The Coalition believes that workforce participation is one of the best ways to increase self-sufficiency and retirement savings. To further encourage workforce participation among older Australians, the Coalition Government introduced the Pension Bonus Scheme in 1998. The maximum bonus is $32,083 for a single person and $26,792 for each member of a couple.

Under the Coalition' s tax reform plan, from 1 July 2008 single senior Australians eligible for the Senior Australian Tax Offset will be able to earn up to $28,867 without paying any income tax or the Medicare levy. From 1 July 2009 this will increase to $29,867 and from 1 July 2010 it will further increase to $30,685.

The Coalition Government has encouraged the use of private health cover by increasing the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate to 35 per cent for people aged 65 to 69, and to 40 per cent for people aged 70 and over.

Concession cards help older Australians to cover the costs of out of pocket expenses. The Coalition Government has been able to make the annual income limits for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card more generous so that today there are around 250,000 self funded retirees receiving the benefits of the card. The last time Labor was in power only around 35,000 people held the card.

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The Coalition Government estimates that a further 20,000 retirees will be able to access the benefits of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card due to the changes to superannuation. From 1 July 2007 seniors aged 60 and over pay no tax on any super payout from a taxed fund. As eligibility for the card relies on a taxable income test, superannuation withdrawals will not be assessed.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS

Strong economic management has allowed the Coalition to ensure that people with disabilities and their carers share in general increases in community living standards.

To recognise the vital role of carers in our society, the Coalition has provided a lump sum carer bonus for the fourth consecutive year. In 2007 $394 million was provided for a Carer Bonus payment to recognise the invaluable work of carers, with $1,000 for Carer Payment recipients and $600 for recipients of Carer Allowance for each eligible care receiver.

One-off bonus payments were also made to eligible carers in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Over the last four years the total amount provided to carers in bonus payments totalled more than $1.3 billion. In 2006, for the first time, carers in receipt of Carer Allowance and Wife Pension or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Partner Service Pension also received $1,000 in recognition of the care provided.

The Coalition Government committed approximately $12.8 billion in 2006-07 to support people with disabilities, their families and carers. This funds a range of initiatives including the Commonwealth State and Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA), Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and Allowance, Employment Assistance, vocational rehabilitation, respite and information for younger carers and peer support groups for parents with a child with a disability.

Despite the Coalition offering $3.3 billion to State and Territory Governments to assist them in meeting their responsibilities under the CSTDA the States and Territories have failed to sign a new agreement.

Because of the failure of the States to adequately fund disability the Coalition Government stepped in and provided $1.8 billion in new funding over five years to support people with a disability, their families and carers, including new measures to help families with children with a disability, support for older carers and their children and supported employment in Business Services.

These reforms are only possible as a result of the Coalition’s strong economic management, which has put Australia in a strong position to address the challenge of our ageing population and ensure that vulnerable members of our community share in the general prosperity enjoyed by the Australian community. Without strong budget management, these benefits are not guaranteed.

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LABOR’S ALTERNATIVE

A Labor Government would be a real risk for older Australians.

Labor’s record in opposition shows that Labor still does not understand the circumstances of Australia’s older citizens.

The Labor Deputy Leader, Julia Gillard, did not even want to extend valuable medical benefits to self funded retirees. In the Parliament, Julia Gillard said that:

“…..there is considerable evidence that even health care cards are not an accurate measure of need” … “For example, a self-funded retiree couple of pension age earning $80,000 per annum is eligible for a health care card and hence for the $500 safety net.” (Gillard, House Hansard 02/03/04)

If the views of Labor’s proposed Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, were implemented, around a quarter of a million self funded retirees are at risk of losing access to the $500 Medicare safety net and potentially their health card too.

Labor has also criticised the Coalition Government’s measures to increase rewards for workforce participation among older Australians. Labor spokeswoman for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said the Pension Bonus Scheme

“…is another one of this government’s mickey mouse schemes. It will not benefit many people at all.” (House Hansard 08/04/98)

Jenny Macklin also said:

“The Opposition has very serious doubts about this proposal. We considered it and abandoned it when we were in government.” (House Hansard 08/04/98)

The Pension Bonus Scheme provides a one-off lump sum payment to older Australians who are registered in the scheme. The average bonus is $12,292, around a third of what a maximum rate pensioner enters retirement with. More than 66,000 older Australians are currently registered with the Pension Bonus Scheme and stand to lose this money if Jenny Macklin has her way. Ms Macklin’s comments show how short-sighted Labor is when it comes to providing help to older Australians.

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While Mr Rudd talks about costs for pensioners and says he wants seniors cards to be valid for interstate concessions, he doesn’t understand that the only thing preventing that has been his State Labor colleagues’ intransigence. Mr Rudd’s Labor mates at the state level refused to provide reciprocal uniform seniors concessions. Despite significant funding offers by the Coalition Government, most Labor States still refused to provide extra concessions to older Australians. It was the Coalition Government that introduced the Seniors Concession Allowance and the Utilities Allowance to help cover charges and concessions that are often the responsibility of State and Local Government.

Similarly, after more than a decade of opposition, the Labor Party is yet to produce a considered and workable approach to assisting Australians with a disability. Instead, Federal Labor has stood by and condoned the abject failure of eight State and Territory Labor Governments to put forward genuine proposals to help overcome unmet need in the areas of supported accommodation and respite.

In the context of the Commonwealth State and Territory Disability Agreement, State Labor’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, its refusal to submit definite proposals on unmet need and its refusal to co-operate with the Australian Government is particularly significant. With a record of nationwide indifference, there is no reason to believe Federal Labor would approach this issue any differently.

The Labor Party simply cannot be trusted with the future welfare of Australians with a disability, and their carers.

LABOR’S RECORD IN STATE GOVERNMENT

While the Coalition Government has improved the Budget so it can provide extra assistance with costs such as utilities and concessions, how Labor treats older Australians, people with disabilities and their carers is demonstrated by what the State Labor Governments have been doing to increase costs:

HEALTH

• The Tasmanian Labor Government will introduce a fee to use the ambulance service from 1 July, 2008. Pensioners and health care card holders will not be exempt. The Tasmanian Health Minister, Ms Giddings, said that each ambulance call out will cost at least $690 (ABC Online, New Ambulance Charge, 08/06/07).

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TRANSPORT

• The NSW Labor Government has increased costs of train travel for seniors by introducing a 15 per cent booking fee on CountryLink. This is a minimum expense to pensioners of $40 per year, ripping $10,000 per day out of the pockets of NSW seniors.

• The Victorian Government removed free motor vehicle registration for concession card holders from July 2004, meaning they now have to pay around $80 per vehicle. Around 800,000 Victorian concession card holders lost this benefit.

• The Victorian government also introduced a $550 cap on its Multi Purpose Taxi Program for disabled people from July 2004. More than 90,000 disabled Victorians have now had this benefit capped while new members are subject to a new means test and are slugged with a $16.50 membership card fee.

Labor State Governments have also refused to help seniors with concessions despite funding offers to do so by the Coalition Government. Despite concessions being a State responsibility the Coalition decided to step in to help seniors and introduced the Seniors Concession and Utilities allowances. The Coalition Government is now contributing $210 million a year to help seniors cover costs.

Mr Rudd has said stood by and said nothing as he watched his state Labor colleagues increase pensioners’ costs. Labor is a real threat to benefits that the Coalition Government has delivered. If the Government cannot run a good budget it is impossible to extend benefits to senior Australians, people with a disability and their carers. When last in power Labor delivered deficits in 9 out of 13 budgets and racked up $96 billion of debt. Australia cannot afford to put its $1.1 trillion economy in the hands of Labor again.

More Support for Pensioners, Self Funded Retirees, People with Disabilities and their Carers

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COSTINGS SUMMARY

MORE SUPPORT FOR PENSIONERS, SELF FUNDED RETIREES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CARERS

Policy Measure

2007-08 $m 2008-09 $m

2009-10 $m 2010-11 $m

TOTAL $m

More Help for Age Pensioners

353.8 750.9 780.1 815.4 2,700.2

Supporting Carers 21.1 47.5 53.7 60.3 182.6

Supporting People with Disabilities 119.1 238.8 240.6 242.9 841.4

More Help for Self Funded Retirees 35.6 64.6 62.5 64.6 227.3

Departmental expenses 10.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 20.0

TOTAL 539.6 1,105.8 1,139.9 1,186.2 3,971.5

NOTE: There is no impact on the Budget of these initiatives as they have already been included in the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook under decisions taken but not yet announced (see page 74).