Cranky granny who grilled PM Tony Abbott over the Federal Budget on Wake Up not what she seems

THE fiery pensioner who grilled PM Tony Abbott over his unpopular Budget on live TV this morning is not who she seems.

SHE’S the Brisbane granny who caused a stir on live TV this morning when she grilled Prime Minister Tony Abbott over his unpopular Budget.

Vilma Ward had Mr Abbott on the ropes when she fired some tough questions his way on Channel 10 morning show Wake Up, protesting changes that will penalise 3.7 million pensioners from 2017.

“Why don’t you leave the pensioners alone? If we pull the belt any tighter we’ll choke to death,” she said.

But it turns out she is not quite what she seems.

Mrs Ward is not just an average pensioner from Queensland; she is Labor’s go-to granny for media events and one of the biggest fans of former PM Kevin Rudd.

A great-grandmother from Norman Park in Mr Rudd’s former electorate of Griffith, Mrs Ward was on the former PM’s first campaign committee, has appeared in his election flyer and has helped stage media events for him.

Best buddies … A photo with Vilma Ward from Kevin Rudd’s Facebook account from when he visited Bulimba Seniors Citizens Club to hand out some Rudd-branded tote bags. Picture: Facebook

Mrs Ward told news.com.au that she “felt terrific” after this morning’s interview but was “fuming” over this comment Mr Abbott made: “I suspect you didn’t vote for the Coalition last time and if you don’t want to vote for the Coalition next time, that’s your right.”

Mrs Ward admitted that she was a personal friend of Mr Rudd’s and that she and her husband were on his first campaign committee. But she was adamant that this had not affected her views.

“My relationship with Kevin and the ALP has nothing to do with it. If there is something I think needs to be criticised, they’ll cop a serve,” she told news.com.au.

“I’ve known (Mr Rudd) since he was nothing … but it doesn’t matter.

“I’m out there for the person that is having it tough and there are lots and lots of pensioners having it tough.”

Vilma Ward shows up in a Kevin Rudd election flyer.

In a campaign flyer for Mr Rudd, Mrs Ward is quoted as saying: “I know Kevin is genuine about helping other people in our local community. If you care about our community, I urge you to support Kevin. He’s one of us.”

Mr Rudd has also posted photos on Facebook of him and Vilma, who is president of the Bulimba Seniors Citizens Club.

In 2010 after Julia Gillard rolled Mr Rudd for the Labor leadership, Mr Rudd was keen to have a warm welcome back to Brisbane for the cameras. Who you gonna call?

Well, Vilma, of course!

The event was presented as a spontaneous welcome home party, but Vilma let slip to the media that the whole thing was organised by Mr Rudd’s electoral office.

“I’m going to kill you. It was at half past five last night that I knew about this,” she was seen saying to Mr Rudd.

She explained to journalists that Mr Rudd’s people had phoned her the night before, asking her to organise the event.

Here Vilma Ward is with Kevin Rudd in 2010. Picture: Liam Kidston

And here she is again in 2007 receiving an award from Ruddy. Picture: Richard Walker

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Under changes announced in the Budget last night, aged pensioners will be hit with slower growth in their payments and tightened eligibility tests.

From September 2017, the pension will cease to grow with the average male weekly earnings and instead be indexed against inflation.

The move was designed to make pensions more affordable and sustainable, Treasurer Joe Hockey said.

Should Vilma, a staunch Labor supporter, be free to publicly criticise Abbott on the Budget? Share your thoughts below and on Twitter | @newscomauHQ

Originally published as Cranky granny who grilled PM Tony Abbott over the Federal Budget on Wake Up not what she seems