Gov wants to cut pensions yet again - clean energy suppliment

Smug Tudge

Last year when they tried it it was shot down in flames by pretty much everyone. But now Tudge wants to try it on again.

$7 a week may not sound like much to many people, but it's certainly a lot to us. $28 a fortnight between David and I. How could we possibly lose this? 

BTW, our rent went up $10 a week recently. We're now paying $410wk out of our pensions. Or about 55% of our income on rent.

Sign GetUp's petition against the cuts here.

“Pensioners, carers, people with disability, people who are unemployed, and single parents all stand to have their social security base income cut if the bill to slash the Energy Supplement is passed.


“Poverty and inequality would worsen and our unemployment payment, which is more than $100 per week below the poverty line, would be cut by $4.40 per week. Pensions would be cut by $7 per week.

“Cutting payments to people who are locked out of paid work will not help them find a job. Instead, it will make it tougher as they will struggle even more to put a roof over their head and put food on the table. For many people, $7 pays for a family meal, an outfit for kids or travel to look for work.


“Despite being an essential service, in less than a decade electricity prices have skyrocketed by more than 80%, disconnections have increased by 47%, the number of households on hardship measures has risen, and more households are rationing energy to the detriment of their health and well-being.


“Low-income households also continue to suffer housing stress with 800,000 low-income households paying more than 30% of their income in rent and more than 100,000 people are homeless.

 “We commend the Nick Xenophon Team, Labor, the Greens, Senator Lambie and Senator Hinch, for previously rejecting this and other cruel measures. We urge them to stay firm.

 “The community sector is united in its opposition to it. The government should focus on improving the adequacy of our unemployment payments rather than throwing their recipients into further destitution. ACOSS