❓ Ms. Quirk questions the Minister about federal funding cuts to seniors' concessions and asks if the state will compensate. The Minister acknowledges the cuts, states a review is underway, and promises consultation with seniors' groups.
AnsweredQoN 381Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SENIORS —
CONCESSIONS FUNDING
381. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering:
I refer to the
reduction in funding for seniors' concessions by the federal
government, totalling $107 million to Western Australia over four years, and
the Treasurer's comments that the state government will not make up the
difference. Will the minister guarantee that the state government will follow
Queensland's lead and provide the funding that has been removed by the
federal Liberal government and that no senior or concession holder will be
worse off due to the federal government's decision to decrease funding
to Western Australia?
CONCESSIONS FUNDING
381. Ms M.M. QUIRK to the
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering:
I refer to the
reduction in funding for seniors' concessions by the federal
government, totalling $107 million to Western Australia over four years, and
the Treasurer's comments that the state government will not make up the
difference. Will the minister guarantee that the state government will follow
Queensland's lead and provide the funding that has been removed by the
federal Liberal government and that no senior or concession holder will be
worse off due to the federal government's decision to decrease funding
to Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. I have been the Minister for
Seniors and Volunteering for 15 months and that is the first question she has
asked me in this house about seniors.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time. Member
for Albany, I do not want to hear from you.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I start by saying that Western Australia
has a very generous Seniors Card. The most important part in this process is to
make sure that we take care of our seniors. We have started to look at this
issue. As the member identified, a national partnership agreement worth $107 million
over four years has been torn up. Yesterday and today I started getting a group
together. I am bringing all my seniors' groups in for a meeting next
Tuesday. We need to have a chat to work out where we are. The member may
remember that when the Treasurer introduced the state budget he said that we
need to look at what concessions we provide. It is now time to have a look at
that process, and it is important to note that I will meet with the sector and
my ministerial advisory committee on seniors. I acknowledge that Western
Australia has lost $25 million, and we are reviewing the concession card
process. It is interesting to note, and I point out to members, that the
commonwealth's part of that process concerns the federal Pensioner
Concession Card and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. This affects my
pensioners, who are the people most likely to be affected, so it is important
to me as Minister for Seniors and Volunteering to review those concessions by
working with this sector to come up with a good collection of supports for seniors
in our community.
Seniors and Volunteering for 15 months and that is the first question she has
asked me in this house about seniors.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time. Member
for Albany, I do not want to hear from you.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I start by saying that Western Australia
has a very generous Seniors Card. The most important part in this process is to
make sure that we take care of our seniors. We have started to look at this
issue. As the member identified, a national partnership agreement worth $107 million
over four years has been torn up. Yesterday and today I started getting a group
together. I am bringing all my seniors' groups in for a meeting next
Tuesday. We need to have a chat to work out where we are. The member may
remember that when the Treasurer introduced the state budget he said that we
need to look at what concessions we provide. It is now time to have a look at
that process, and it is important to note that I will meet with the sector and
my ministerial advisory committee on seniors. I acknowledge that Western
Australia has lost $25 million, and we are reviewing the concession card
process. It is interesting to note, and I point out to members, that the
commonwealth's part of that process concerns the federal Pensioner
Concession Card and the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card. This affects my
pensioners, who are the people most likely to be affected, so it is important
to me as Minister for Seniors and Volunteering to review those concessions by
working with this sector to come up with a good collection of supports for seniors
in our community.
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