Seniors concessions praised, but questions about tiers

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2496 Sue Shearer OKSir – We are pleased that seniors finally have certainty regarding the NT Pensioners and Carers Concessions Scheme review, with the Territory Government providing 10 to 15% more funds for the scheme, which is the most generous in Australia for seniors. However, there would still be some disparity.
 
While the NT government has stuck to their election promise of reviewing the NTPCCS scheme, and provided more than their election promise to those seniors who were disenfranchised by the previous government, some seniors will still not be treated equally.
 
COTA NT believes in equality, diversity and choice, and with this new scheme, it would appear that there are three tiers to the new concession scheme.
 
Seniors who are the recipients of the Aged Cared Pension will still receive all the current concessions, plus an annual payment of $500.
 
Seniors who were grandfathered will keep their concessions and receive $500. Seniors who were disenfranchised by the previous government will now receive $500, which is extremely good news.
 
However, while the annual $500 payment is now for each and every senior, and an increase from the current payment $350 (which was the original election promise by the Gunner Government, and is intended to acknowledge seniors and their contribution to the Territory), we would still like to see all seniors being treated equally, especially with Power and Water bills making up 44% of current household bills.
 
COTA NT does support the capping of the electricity and water to the regional average in the new Concession scheme, as unfortunately some users were receiving abnormally high concessions.
 
Overall this is an extremely good start for the concessions scheme, however we will continue to lobby the NT Government on behalf of ALL seniors in the Territory to be treated equally.
 
Sue Shearer
CEO, COTA NT
 
 
 

4 COMMENTS

  1. As a tax payer, I cannot see why everybody over the age of 65 is entitled to concessions. There are many who are still working full time, some and receiving very good incomes.
    Nowhere else in Australia is this happening and the living costs in some areas are just as high if not higher.
    Stop wasting taxpayers’ money, we all know that other states are contributing for these concessions.
    Where does the NT get their funding from? The Federal government of course. And you want to become a state. lol.

  2. Fascinating to hear that seniors who were grandfathered will keep their concessions and receive $500.
    Would be even more interesting to know what that means.
    Exactly what did the grandfathers do to the seniors? Care to tell us, Sue Shearer?

  3. It would be very interesting to know the source for the figure referred to in relation to “Power and Water bills making up 44% of current household bills” – and whether this figure refers to all Territorians, or just seniors.
    The recently released ABS Household Expenditure Survey Figures (for the period 2015-16), show that in the Northern Territory, electricity and water and sewerage expenditure, on average represents 3.65% of a household’s weekly expenditure on goods and services.
    This figure is based on an average figure of $44.72 per household per week spent on electricity and $17.40 per week on water and sewerage (which equates to a combined figure of $3224 per year).
    Households with solar PV panels, who may pay very little for electricity bills, are included in the calculations for the electricity expenditure figure, so the average paid by households without solar may be slightly higher than the 3.65% of weekly expenditure.
    The figure of 44%, therefore, remains somewhat of a mystery.

  4. 44% of bills?? I agree with Jonathan – it sounds high. But then again it’s probably the way you have worded it to make it sound high. 44% on bills is probably not that much. It’s not 44% of income.
    Perhaps COTA and the government should be putting some more work into energy efficiency. I’m not keen on propping up senior’s excessive power bills.
    Btw – what is COTA??
    [ED – Council on the Ageing.]

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