Security in Retirement

Mayo is the oldest electorate in South Australia and is home to many retired Australians who have worked hard for financial security in their retirement. I am committed to ensuring that our older Australians get a fair deal.

This means:

• Supporting an independent body to set the deeming rate for age pensioners
• Opposing Labor's proposal at the 2019 Federal election to remove dividend imputation credits from our less-than-wealthy retirees
• Securing once-off support for pensioners ($75 for singles and $62.50 per member of a couple) struggling with rising energy bills
• Supporting the return of the Pensioner Concession Card to pensioners who stopped being eligible for a pension payment due to changes to the assets test
• Supporting the creation of an independent tribunal to determine the age pension in line with cost of living increases
• Supporting and maintaining critical services for seniors, such as the Medicare Services Centre in Victor Harbor
• Supporting superannuation reforms to ensure more money goes into the pockets of retirees
• Organising positive ageing forums and expos with a range of guest speakers to provide relevant and timely information
• Calling for an urgent review of new, stringent Centrelink income reporting obligations for pensioners

Speeches in Parliament:

• Treasury Laws Amendment (Your Future, Your Super) Bill 2021 (3 June 2021)
• Matters of Public Importance: Housing affordability (18 March 2021)
• Questions Without Notice (Pensions and Benefits) (2 December 2020)
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (Energy Assistance Payment) Bill 2019 (3 April 2019)
• Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Supporting Retirement Incomes) Bill 2018 (13 February 2019)
• Labor's dividend imputation policy (13 February 2019)
• Social Services Legislation Amendment (Energy Assistance Payment and Pensioner Concession Card) Bill 2017 (30 May 2017)
• Kangaroo Island Tax Offset (28 February 2017)
• Men's sheds (12 October 2016)

Media Releases:

• Super reforms put money back in the pockets of retirees (17 June 2021)
• New income reporting driving pensioners out of work (11 May 2021)
• Independent body must set deeming rate (8 July 2019)
  
• Centre Alliance rejects dividend imputation policy (13 February 2019)
• Medicare Service Centre win for South Coast (1 February 2019)
• ANZ boss asked to reverse branch closures (24 October 2018)
• Rebekha challenges Government to deliver tax relief for Kangaroo Island (9 June 2018)
• Age Pension poverty prompts call for urgent review (27 March 2018)

You can also read about my work on health and aged care issues here.