I have a reply to my email to the ALP--the LIBs have not replied as yet--see below>>




Dear ________



Thank you for your email.



There will no penalty for owners of older vehicles that do not, or are not able to participate in the Cleaner Car Rebate Scheme.



In regard to pensions, the Gillard Labor Government has delivered the biggest increase to the single age pension in more than a hundred years with increases of more than $100 a fortnight in the age pension for singles and $76 for couples.

We have improved pension indexation so the pension keeps up with the rising cost of living. We have introduced a new Pensioner Living Cost Index that better reflects the basket of goods that pensioners buy, and have included this, along with the regular CPI and a benchmark to wages to the pension indexation formula. Federal Labor has also increased the single pension from 25 per cent to 27.7 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings, and will keep the benchmark at this higher level.

Federal Labor believes that the age pension is a foundation of Australia’s retirement income system. Three out of four Australians aged over 65 receive a full or part pension. The age pension needs to provide seniors with a decent standard of living, and that’s what our pension increase and changes to indexation will help achieve.

In addition, new measures to help pensioners with cost of living pressures have also been introduced with a $400 increase to the utilities allowance, a $500 bonus payment in 2008 and economic stimulus payments (of $1,400 for singles or $2,100 for couples).

Kind Regards,

ALP Information Services



AUTHORISED N. MARTIN for the ALP, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT