[Greens-Media] Greens succeed in motion for affordable services for seniors

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

A Greens motion for better state concessions for seniors passed in the 
upper house of Victorian Parliament last night with the support of all MPs 
in front of a packed public gallery of seniors group members.

"My motion called for a review to see whether concessions are sufficient 
to make basic services like housing and utilities affordable for seniors, 
because that's what the concessions are meant to be doing, but in my view 
they are failing."

"The Municipal Rates Concession is presently fixed at 50% of council 
rates, to a maximum of $184, which would be some sort of joke if it wasn't 
so serious.  If the government can find me a local council where there are 
council rates of less than $368 per year on a property with a house, I 
will be very surprised."

"My rates in West Footscray are about $1,600 per year.  If I were a senior 
citizen on a pension, who had lived in that house since West Footscray was 
a much more affordable working-class suburb, I would be faced with the 
decision of whether to move house or whether to eat.  And that is 
absolutely shameful."

"Quality of life for seniors is linked with being connected to a 
community, feeling safe and being close to friends and family.  Nobody 
should be forced out of their family home because their rates are 
unaffordable, when we have a concession that is meant to make their rates 
affordable."

"My motion also called for the provision of cooling appliances in the Home 
Wise Grants Scheme.  More people died in the heat wave before the 2009 
bushfires than died in the bushfire itself, with most of the burden of 
death and illness during the heatwave falling on seniors."

"I was thrilled to get the support of government, opposition and 
cross-bench MPs for this important motion.  I was also thrilled to be able 
to debate it in Seniors Week, with the presence of so many seniors in the 
gallery - some of whom waited all day to see the debate.  I saved this 
motion for my final week of parliament for the term, as the reason I was 
elected was to open the doors of parliament to individuals and groups with 
important community issues that would not otherwise be heard," said Ms 
Hartland

While the motion was not binding on the government, Ms Hartland described 
it to parliament as giving the government a nudge in the right direction. 
She indicated that if she is returned to parliament after the November 
election and the government has not acted, she will refer the matter to a 
parliament committee

For the full text of Ms Hartland's speech, go to 
http://mps.vic.greens.org.au/node/2337

For comment: Colleen Hartland - 9689 6373

*******************************************
Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen Hartland MLC
Western Metropolitan Region

A: 75 Victoria Street, Seddon 3011
P: 9689 6373
M: 0409 333 595
F: 9689 6227
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au

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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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