Govt quiet on seniors bonus payments

[Tina Greco - Melbourne]

Govt quiet on seniors bonus payments
ABC
Posted Sat Mar 8, 2008 4:13pm AEDT
The Government has refused to confirm or deny it plans to cut bonus payments to senior citizens.



The Federal Government is refusing to reveal whether it plans to scrap bonus payments to seniors.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith would not confirm or deny reports that Labor planned to axe bonus payments of up to $500 for pensioners, saying the issue would be dealt with in the budget.

The Opposition has accused the Government of targeting the most vulnerable members of the community after carers' special payments also appeared under threat.

Mr Smith says the Government does understand the pressures faced by those on low incomes.

"We certainly understand that so far as seniors are concerned, that any adverse impacts on their income have the capacity to add enormous pressure to their quality of life," he said.

"But these issues are always dealt with in the budget context and that's how we're approaching them today."

'Losing compassion'

Earlier, federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said Mr Rudd is losing his compassion.

"Yesterday we learned that the Government's planning an attack on carers and their disabled children - today we learn of an attack on seniors and the elderly," he said.

"What next? Small business and families?

"The seniors in this country, the men and women over the age of 65 - this is the generation that ... gave us what we have."