Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

WA seniors are hopping mad about the Abbott government's attacks on their income and on their cost of living. Last Friday, I attended an incredible community meeting of seniors organised by 6PR, Channel 7 and Council on the Ageing WA. The mood was electric. The Perth Town Hall was at capacity—standing room only—with scores overflowing into foyers, huddled around radios. At least 12 coalition members were invited to attend, but not one had the guts to front up. One senator did ring in from Canberra; that did not go down well. These seniors are a generation that do not come from the age of entitlement. They understand sacrifice, but they know when they are being lied to and they are angry about it. Since this meeting, Colin Barnett has announced WA will halve the cost of living rebate, passing on the Commonwealth cuts to senior concessions.

I have been contacted now by over 1,500 Perth residents who are overwhelmingly opposed to the GP tax, the cutting of concessions and the abolition of the seniors supplement and who are vehemently opposed to reducing indexation rates of pensions. A punter from Perth summed it up in his letter to me: 'This group of people worked hard to build and develop this country. At this time of their lives they do not need politicians to degrade them to the status of a ticking time bomb and a burden to society.' (Time expired)