The Local Government Association of South Australia’s (LGASA) campaign to protect South Australia’s pensioners from bill shock, has had a winning outcome with the State Government announcing it would cover pensioner concessions on Council rates.
South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis announced that the shortfall will be funded for 12 months.
LGASA President, Mayor Dave Burgess, said the Treasurer’s announcement that pensioners would receive a $200 cost of living concession cheque was a win for SA pensioners and concession card holders.
“We have said all along that we didn’t care if it was the State or Commonwealth that funded pensioner concessions but one or the other would have to cover the cost.
“I would like to congratulate the Treasurer and his Government, for listening to the groundswell of public concern that pensioners would lose $190 in rate concessions each financial year.
“In fact the Treasurer has upped the ante and has committed to delivering a $10 increase, taking the concessions to $200 for full pensioners, the first increase since the 2001-02 financial year and will retain the $100 concession for self-funded retirees and concession card holders.
“I understand that the criteria for a concession will be altered and more of our communities’ vulnerable people will be drawn into the protective net.”
Mayor Burgess said because the payment will be made directly from the State, pensioners should not think of this as a windfall but rather an advance payment for their Council rates.
“I would specifically like to thank the public support for the campaign, the work that Councils have done, media, COTA [Council on the Ageing] SA and SACOSS [South Australian Council of Social Service], and the Liberal Opposition, Greens, Family First, John Darley and Kelly Vincent in the Upper House.”
