Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Tony Abbott reaches into pockets of pensioners

Today Tony Abbott’s Liberals have re-confirmed they will claw back hundreds of dollars from Australian pensioners.

The Member for Curtin, Julie Bishop confirmed on Channel 10 Breakfast this morning that an Abbott Government will rip away the latest increase to the pension – $338 a year for single pensioners on the maximum rate and $510 a year for pensioner couples on the maximum rate.

Ms Bishop said: “Well we won’t need the compensation for a tax that isn’t there.”

Minutes later on ABC News Breakfast the Member for Flinders, Greg Hunt, refused to rule out clawing back money from the pockets of Australian pensioners.

This comes on top of Tony Abbott’s promise to slash family payments and take away tax cuts for working Australians – even though he has promised a tax cut to Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer.

The facts speak for themselves. Tony Abbott’s Liberals will hurt pensioners and low and middle income families.

Only Labor understands the pressures on pensioners and working families. That’s why we’ll continue to work hard to deliver much-needed support, while cutting carbon pollution and keeping our economy strong.