Budget ‘nothing to get excited about’ for seniors, says NT advocate

THERE were some positive bits and pieces for older Territorians in the Budget but also a lot missing in action, says pensioner Don Lockley

Darwin pensioner Don Lockley said he was a bit underwhelmed by Tuesday's Budget. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

THERE were some positive bits and pieces for older Territorians in the Budget but also a lot missing in action, says pensioner Don Lockley.

The 88-year-old Leanyer resident said he was left a bit underwhelmed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s Budget speech last night for “only briefly” mentioning seniors.

“I thought this was a reasonable Budget, but there was nothing really for a pensioner like myself to get excited about,” he said.

“When I heard about the one- time cash handout for our power bills I was a bit sceptical as well. Even though I agree that any little bit helps, I don’t think $75 is going to make that much of a difference for the rest of the year.

“I have a couple of friends who are living alone and it’s been really tough for them because cost of living is high and the amount of money you get on the age pension is so low that it only covers the bare essentials.”

The Budget set aside $725 million to deliver “10,000 new home-care packages” aimed at keeping older Australians living in their homes for longer.

There also is $500 million for a royal commission into the mistreatment of people with a disability.

Council on the Ageing NT president Sue Shearer said she was disappointed there weren’t more home-care packages in the Budget or a Newstart increase.

“Those 10,000 home-care packages are part of a package mentioned in the 2018-19 Budget when they announced 40,000 new packages and the last of those was announced in February so they are playing on words so no new ones and still an 18- month or two-year wait list time,” she said.

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“I’d like the Health Minster to come up here and explain to NT pensioners why they’ll be missing out.”

Originally published as Budget ‘nothing to get excited about’ for seniors, says NT advocate