BRITISH Pensioners in Australia has launched an international letter-writing campaign to push for indexation of British pensions as the United Kingdom approaches its May 2015 general election.
Chairman Jim Tilley said the next 10 months would provide a critical opportunity for change, and a campaign targeting marginal seats could make frozen pensions an election issue.
He said more than 40 per cent of people surveyed in the UK said they would vote for a party that would unfreeze the pensions.
Mr Tilley said he had approached Clive Palmer and the Palmer United Party to discuss the issue after his approaches to the Federal Government met with silence.
“Britain is free riding on the welfare state of countries to which British citizens are moving,” Mr Tilley said.
“Our fight to be treated fairly and equally with expat British pensioners in the US and the EU will inject more than $500 million into Australia’s economy annually, saving the budget $1 billion over four years by way of lower Centrelink part pension payments.”
• 1300-308-353, www.bpia.org.au