Pensioners rally for a "fair go"

Fair Go for Pensioners and Housing for the Aged Action Group speakers said while they were grateful the state government had funded the state's Home at Last service for seniors at risk of homelessness for another four years, neither state nor federal budgets had funded new public housing stock.

"Massive investment in public housing by the state and federal governments is urgently needed to address the huge demand for affordable housing that is needed for our ageing society," HAAG manager Jeff Fiedler said.

"Older people are forced into an unregulated private rental market where they are ripped off and manipulated by unscrupulous landlords.

"Public housing rescues older people from housing poverty and provides the dignity everyone in society deserves."

Victorian Council of Social Service chief Emma King said the value of energy concessions was being eroded by cost of living increases.

Fair Go for Pensioners member George Zangalis said it was disappointing there had been no improvements to concessions and rebates over the past three years.

President Roger Wilson said the group believed the federal government should end poverty by taxing the rich to "pay their fair share".