LABOR has pledged to keep the energy supplement if elected to government.
The Federal Government currently has draft laws before parliament which, if passed, will scrap the energy supplement for anyone who has become a new pension or allowance recipient since September 20, 2016.
An Opposition statement said new figures had revealed that the cut would hit 1.5 million age pensioners over the decade to 2028-29.
“If Turnbull gets this legislation through, in the 2020-21 financial year alone more than 592,000 age pensioners will have less in their pockets every fortnight.
“Axing the energy supplement will mean a cut of $14.10 per fortnight to single pensioners or around $365 a year, and a cut of $21.20 a fortnight or around $550 a year to couple pensioners.
”At a time when energy prices are on the rise, the last thing that Australian pensioners need is a cut to their household budget.
“Every dollar counts when it comes to paying the bills and putting food on the table – that’s why Labor will reverse this cut,” the statement said.
- Read more: No energy supplement for 25,000 retirees
- Read more: CSIRO need help for energy use research
