During the 2007 federal election campaign Labor promised that a Rudd Government would:
"Lift pensioners' utilities allowance from $107.20 to $500 a year
Extend utilities allowance to the disabled and carers"
The Sun Herald report:
ABC Radio "World Today" report:
After discovering that Centrelink operators knew nothing more about this election pledge than what was reported in the media and realising that the first 2008 utilities allowance payment for old age pensioners was due this March, I telephoned Minister for Human Services Senator Joe Ludwig's parliamentary office today.
To be told, by the very helpful staffer who answered, that the Rudd Government intends to honour all its election promises but that no other information was available at this time.
With so many people on the NSW North Coast living in comparative poverty (especially in the Clarence Valley where an estimated 40% of residents are in this uncomfortable situation) the Rudd Government needs to get cracking, and provide some certainty to aged and disability support pensioners with regard to a firm timeline for the promised increase and extension of this utility allowance.
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