Gillard 'neglecting pensioners' in digital switchover assistance

VICTORIA has accused Canberra of failing pensioners in its digital TV switchover aid program by not replacing aerials.

VICTORIA has accused Canberra of failing the most vulnerable pensioners in its digital television switchover assistance program by refusing to replace aerials for those who cannot afford their own home.

State Housing Minister Wendy Lovell said the Gillard government was neglecting those pensioners who rent or live in housing commission units by making them ineligible for full assistance under the free set-top box scheme.

Under the $308 million Household Assistance Scheme, extended earlier this month from regional Victoria and South Australia, pensioners on maximum rates are entitled to a free set-top box and external aerial repairs.

The government has said the aim of the program is to provide an "essential safety net to the most vulnerable" people when analog television is phased out in 2013.

But The Australian revealed yesterday this aerial replacement is available only for pensioners who are home owners and not renting, with the government refusing to "subsidise" landlords - whether private or public.

There is now a standoff between the federal and state governments over who is responsible for the replacement of antennas for pensioners in "detached" homes in public housing.

Ms Lovell said Communications Minister Stephen Conroy had failed to communicate the plan with Victoria.

"Senator Conroy is misleading pensioners by telling them the federal government will make their homes digital-ready, when in fact the commonwealth won't fund cabling and aerials for those who are renting," she said.

"The switch to digital television is a federal responsibility, and as such the Gillard government needs to make sure the most vulnerable Australians are not cut off when the analogue signal is gone."

Regional Victorian MP Dan Tehan, whose office was alerted to the problem by pensioners, said Senator Conroy should apologise.

But a spokesman for Senator Conroy said Ms Lovell had "proven her incompetence" by incorrectly claiming the government had not consulted with Victoria over the issue.

"A simple phone call to her department would have shown that officials from the Digital Switchover Taskforce met with Victorian Housing Department officials on a number of occasions, " he said.

"The Victorian government should stop being irresponsible public-housing landlords and meet their responsibilities to their tenants."