OPPOSITION leader Mark McGowan was in Mandurah Thursday morning with local MP David Templeman slamming the state government’s decision to cap pensioner rebates on council and water rates.
Under the changes announced in the state government's May 2015 budget, pensioners will receive a maximum rebate of $550.
Before the changes come into effect on July 1 pensioners receive an uncapped 50 per cent rebate on council rates.
Mr McGowan said the changes would hit Mandurah and the Peel region hard with research showing almost 4000 local pensioners would be out of pocket $203 on average, some as much as $1200.
“Older citizens of Mandurah are being penalised by the state government's financial mismanagement,” Mr McGowan said.
“What's more this comes on top of water rates capping, they abolished the cost of living supplement for seniors and they abolished the rebate for seniors in relation to motor vehicle registration, so that's four that they've abolished that every senior in Western Australia will suffer from.”
Mr Templeman said Mandurah would be disproportionately affected because of the number of seniors living in the city.
“This is going to be a real sting to a lot of households in Mandurah and we know statistically we have a lot of low income homes concentrated in this area including Dawesville,” he said.
“They've already had to cope with increases in utilities over the last eight years, tenfold increases in electricity and other utilities.
“And there's no out for these older people, they're going to have to find 200 plus for their council rates and whatever it means for their water rates and it continues on into the out years.”
A memorandum circulated to City of Mandurah councillors revealed some pensioners would be paying as much as $1200, with the capping of rates in the City raising $810,000.
Seniors minister Tony Simpson said the government valued the contribution of seniors to the development of Western Australia and is committed to supporting their active participation in the community.
“The State Government recognises the cost of living pressures on seniors," he said.
"However, with the population of seniors set to almost double in 20 years, it is vital that the support provided to seniors is sustainable and targeted at those who need it most.
“There are huge variations in the rebates provided on water services and local government rates – from a few hundred dollars up to thousands of dollars paid to individuals each year.
“Capping the rebates is fair, responsible and ensures the support funded by taxpayers is sustainable.”
