Tasmania’s aged pensioners have been hardest hit by the recent cost of living increases, making life even tougher when they were already struggling to make ends meet.
Shadow Treasurer Shane Broad said while rising prices are hurting every household budget, the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms aged pensioners are hurting most.
“Today’s ABS Selected Cost of Living Indexes show Australian aged pensioners have borne the brunt of recent cost of living increases,” Dr Broad said.
“For Tasmanian pensioners, the situation is even worse, because the CPI data released last week showed annual inflation in Tasmania at 4.5 per cent, compared to the national average of 3.5 per cent.
“With pensioners spending more on transport and housing, the pressures they face are causing enormous hardship.
“The Gutwein government has increased the pain with its broken promises on fuel pricing and failures on housing.
“When the aged pension is already barely enough to live on, the ever-rising cost of basic necessities means making ends meet is a daily challenge for some of our most vulnerable people.
“This government needs to look at the reality facing everyday Tasmanians and do something to help them, instead of trying to spin their way out of trouble.”
Shane Broad MP
Shadow Treasurer
