Tony Abbott today admitted that running his scare campaign against the Clean Energy Future package is more important to him than supporting pensioners, agreeing on national television the Coalition would clawback thousands of dollars from Australia's most vulnerable.
Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten said "When questioned today on morning television, Tony Abbott confirmed he will rip away the Government's tax cuts for seniors and rises in the pension:
HOST: So, in the lead up to the next election, when people such as pensioners are paying more and getting this compensation, you won't be telling them "we've got to take that money away from them'?
ABBOTT: Look, the whole point, Karl, is this is a bad deal for the Australian people.
TONY ABBOTT - TODAY SHOW - 12 JULY 2011
And is it any wonder that Tony Abbott will target seniors, because everything is now about the mindless negativity of his campaign to stop action on climate change:
"...such political future as I have got rests entirely on beating this tax."
TONY ABBOTT - DOORSTOP - 11 JULY 2011
"Tony Abbott needs to stop using pensioners and seniors as his human shields in his campaign to clawback tax cuts, pension rises and increased payments," Mr Shorten said.
For example, an elderly couple on a part rate pension with some other taxable income (total income $70,000) would lose more than $2000 in household assistance under Tony Abbott's plan.
A pensioner couple on the maximum rate of the pension would have $510 per year ripped away from them under Tony Abbott's plan.
Plus they will be slugged an extra $720 a year to fund his direct action plan that will still see pollution go up, not down.
That means some older Australian couples could lose over $2,500 every year under Tony Abbott.
"The fact is, this package provides certainty for investment, it makes big polluters pay and it gives a fair deal to families and vulnerable Australians. This is a great outcome for Australia and it is a real pity Tony Abbott and the Coalition can't overcome their desire to say "no' to everything and give Australia's future bipartisan support."