Zak Kirkup and the Liberals will boost the value of fuel cards for more than 55,000 eligible pensioners in regional Western Australia from $575 to $625 a year, cutting their costs to attend medical appointments, community events, and to visit family and friends.
“The Liberal Party values regional Western Australians and this policy highlights our ongoing commitment to the pensioners who are such important members of country communities,” Liberal leader Zak Kirkup said.
“We need to make sure our seniors feel safer and financially secure in their retirement, because they have already made such a significant contribution to our State and we respect that.
“Regional communities and our pensioners were already doing it tough before COVID-19, and increasing the Country Age Pension Fuel Card is just one way the Liberals will bring down cost of living pressures to help tackle Labor’s $850 per year bill increases.
“Helping people who are struggling to make ends meet is part of our plan for a safer, smarter today and better, brighter tomorrow for all Western Australians.”
Liberal deputy leader Libby Mettam supported the announcement, which will help regional pensioners who don’t have access to the same level of public transport services as those in the city, to travel to essential services, which are often a long way from their home.
“Western Australia’s regional pensioners are the heart and soul of country communities and we want to ensure that transport costs don’t prevent them from remaining connected, especially after the isolation many have experienced during COVID,” Ms Mettam said.
“While Labor has been focussed on the city, we have been thinking about the pensioners doing it tough in country WA.”
“This increase to the Country Age Pension Fuel Card Scheme will cost $2.8 million per annum, or $8.4 million over three years, and increases fuel card values to a level that reflects a fair increase since Labor made cuts in 2017.”