MEDIA RELEASE

Age pension backflip: now only the Liberal Democrats will cut spending

5 September, 2018

With the Liberal National government dumping its policy to gradually lift the eligibility age for the age pension, the Liberal Democrats are now the only party that retains such a policy and takes budget repair seriously.

“The age of eligibility for the age pension should be gradually lifted,” said Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm.

“Those who find they are no longer able to work but are younger than pension age are eligible to receive the disability support pension, so gradually lifting the age of eligibility to the age pension only affects those who can continue to work.

“The age pension is a welfare payment paid for by current and future taxpayers. It is not paid for by the taxes that recipients have paid during their career. There is no fund of cash set aside to pay for age pensions over the coming decades. Thus the greater number of people receiving the pension, the less each recipient can expect to receive.”

Senator Leyonhjelm said that with increasing health and life expectancy, thousands of older Australians were set to spend many years on welfare despite still being able to work and pay their own way.

“This is inequitable,” he said.

“We are in the eleventh straight year of budget deficits. We keep on racking up debt that will be a burden for future generations.

“This is not how the grandparents of Australia should be looking after their grandchildren.”

Media: Kelly Burke 0408 734 586

Kelly.burke@aph.gov.au

Liberal Democrats

Former Senator David Leyonhjelm

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Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats

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