❓ Ms. Davies asks the Premier to increase the value and reinstate indexation of the Country Age Pension Fuel Card due to rising costs. The Premier acknowledges cost of living pressures and highlights existing government initiatives but doesn't directly commit to changes to the fuel card.
AnsweredQoN 940Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY AGE PENSION FUEL
CARD
940. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Country Age Pension
Fuel Card introduced by the former Liberal–National government to
support eligible regional pensioners with the cost of travel.
(1) Given the
significant rise in fuel and other cost-of-living pressures experienced by
those on fixed incomes, will the government increase the value of the card?
(2) Will the
government reinstate indexation to preserve the real value of these cards by
those who require it to attend essential medical appointments, stay connected
with family and friends and be mobile in their own communities where there is
no or little public transport?
CARD
940. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Country Age Pension
Fuel Card introduced by the former Liberal–National government to
support eligible regional pensioners with the cost of travel.
(1) Given the
significant rise in fuel and other cost-of-living pressures experienced by
those on fixed incomes, will the government increase the value of the card?
(2) Will the
government reinstate indexation to preserve the real value of these cards by
those who require it to attend essential medical appointments, stay connected
with family and friends and be mobile in their own communities where there is
no or little public transport?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. We regard
assisting Western Australians with the cost of living as one of our key
priorities. When I became Premier, I said we will keep the economy strong, keep
Western Australian jobs growing and look after those doing it tough. That is
why we have taken important measures in relation to the cost of living,
particularly with our $400 household electricity credit and our $300 KidSport
grants and other measures that go to assisting Western Australians with the cost
of living.
One of the policies that we are
particularly proud of is the regional airfare caps. That allows people in regional Western Australia to stay connected. We
know that because many Western Australians live at such great distances
apart and away from Perth, they often have great expenses for airfares within
the state. Our regional airfare cap scheme is an incredibly important gesture
to assist regional Western Australians deal with the cost of living.
Of
course, we have continued the fuel card subsidy arrangements. It is an
important part of the work that the Minister for Regional Development
does to continue to keep Western Australians connected. We have also increased
assistance under the patient assisted travel scheme, which was recommended by a
parliamentary committee prior to the Liberal and National Parties'
departure from the government benches in 2017 but which the previous government
completely ignored. I share the member's passion for assisting regional
Western Australians deal with the cost of living and quality of life, and we
will continue to put in place measures to assist everyone, particularly those
doing it tough at the moment.
assisting Western Australians with the cost of living as one of our key
priorities. When I became Premier, I said we will keep the economy strong, keep
Western Australian jobs growing and look after those doing it tough. That is
why we have taken important measures in relation to the cost of living,
particularly with our $400 household electricity credit and our $300 KidSport
grants and other measures that go to assisting Western Australians with the cost
of living.
One of the policies that we are
particularly proud of is the regional airfare caps. That allows people in regional Western Australia to stay connected. We
know that because many Western Australians live at such great distances
apart and away from Perth, they often have great expenses for airfares within
the state. Our regional airfare cap scheme is an incredibly important gesture
to assist regional Western Australians deal with the cost of living.
Of
course, we have continued the fuel card subsidy arrangements. It is an
important part of the work that the Minister for Regional Development
does to continue to keep Western Australians connected. We have also increased
assistance under the patient assisted travel scheme, which was recommended by a
parliamentary committee prior to the Liberal and National Parties'
departure from the government benches in 2017 but which the previous government
completely ignored. I share the member's passion for assisting regional
Western Australians deal with the cost of living and quality of life, and we
will continue to put in place measures to assist everyone, particularly those
doing it tough at the moment.
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