Northern Territory Concessions Review

My wife is a many generations Territorian. I've been here since 1981. As 74 year olds we have appreciated the Concession benefits and noted the former government had reduced Motor Vehicle concession for registration by some 41%. They reduced the Travel subsidy by some 53%. Power subsidy was affected by the increase in charges. I have read some of the comments by others -" Delma Ainslea-Cowles" is spot on when she says we didn't rort the system - What were the government checks and balances? We also agree with the comments of "4th Generation Territorian" who reiterates not our fault and we didn't want the proposed changes. "Claude " says go back to pre CLP , Agree. It's very clear that long term Territorians want what was available prior to the CLP changes. We clearly want to stay but all, including pollies, know it a very expensive to live here. We are on the Govt Pension but also understand Self Funded Retirees who might have assets that they could sell and move interstate taking their money and spending elsewhere. We also volunteer and support our grand kids and children who are NT residents.

I can remember the introduction of the concession scheme, with the reasoning being to retain retirees here in the NT. I have appreciated what I have received due to its introduction. I worked here for more than 30years; now I am retired & spend most of my time doing volunteer work in a variety of situations, so in my own way I am still contributing to the community. Please think very carefully about removing or altering the scheme to any great degree or you will find that we vote with our feet & leave. And the idea of a debit card is way off beam. It has the possibility of numerous ways for the cash to be spent other than for power & water & the necessities of life, together with the chances for family or carers to use abuse of many kinds to obtain the cash from their elders.
Fran W

I have been a permanent resident of the N.T.from1983 and have contributed consideredly to the
development of Darwin in private enterprise and the education sector .We have rared our children here and have 9 grand children still 7 in the N.T.whom we enjoy very much. We do not want to leave
them and their families as the cost of living can be very expensive through the charges of power and water which at present are subsidized by the government.If this subsidy is removed or reduced it will become unafordable on a limited income .
The concession on council rates have never been increased although the rates keep increasing.
At present we enjoy $500.travel allowance which the previous government already reduced by at least$300. A voucher system of limited payment to any business or organization is exploited and virtually impossible to stop . History has seen this with any government contribution to private stimulus. It would be better to keep the present system and add a more stringent vetting to stop the few individuals from rorting the system and if caught they should lose all the benefits
The system should ,as was originally intended foster all retires to enjoy their retirement in the place they choose to call home for a considerably long or extended time.
Thank you for allowing me to have a say

Yours P .Grotaers.

As a pensioner i need the current concessions for power and water anything less would put stress on my lifestyle. At present we are a couple with two pensions to pay the accounts , however if one of us passed away the cost of living for PAWA and the Darwin City council rates would not be any less to pay.
Please consider putting senior Territorians in a safe financial position so we may have dignity in old age. We have learnt by experience to be frugal don't force poverty on the elderly.

Thank you for the opportunity to have a say.
Mary Grotaers.

Removed by moderator.

You should all be shot! How dare you claim this scheme is fair. Once again politicians stealing from the most vulnerable but you can afford to waste $50 million on an art gallery. May you suffer the fate of a 1 term government. The only system abusers are you lot.

Seniors are a resource that the Territory needs. We contribute most of our income back into the community, we do hundreds of hours of volunteer work, we keep many not for Profit organisations alive and functioning, we baby sit and provide after school care. We are contributors not leaches as many seniors are being portrayed. Many are forced to work part time due to the cost of living increases not only here but in other jurisdiction.

We see a continual eroding of our superannuation scheme by the Federal Government.

A well structure Seniors Concession Scheme which has true benefits -benefits which are capped at realist rates for key expenses of power, water and sewerage plus licences combined with a robust transparent airfare refund system etc will go a long way to assisting Senior Territorians to stay in the Territory.

Shazza

I am a 72 year old female who has lived in Darwin since 1963. My 3 sons were all born at the old Darwin Hospital at Myilly Point. My family still reside in Darwin and Surrounds. I have been a recipient of the Seniors & Carers Concessions for the last 12 years.
The concessions have changed considerably over those years. I DO NOT agree with a debit card/basic card or what ever you wish to call it. I f people are accessing more than their fair share perhaps there are not enough checks and balances in place to prevent this. I understand that the Travel part of the concessions has been rorted over a period of time but that was NOT the work of Seniors. However we are the ones that have been penalised for it by having our concessions cut.
I think people over the age of 65 regardless, should be entitled to concessions. Seniors new to the Territory should live here for a minimum of 2 years prior to eligibility OR proof of Home Purchase and residency within those 2 years to be eligible.
For those of us who wish to downsize and move into a Lifestyle or Retirement Village we should be eligible for a concession on our Body Corporate Fees (Maintenance Fees) equivalent to the concession we would have received on our residential property had we remained living independantly in our own home.
To encourage us to remain living in Darwin (or somewhere else in the Territory) we need to be looked after and we definitely need assistance with the cost of living. At the very least the following concessions need to be maintained: Power, Water, Sewerage, Council Rates, Motor Vehicle Registration, Driving Licences, Spectacles AND the TRAVEL Allowance should be restored to a full Airfare every two years at the very least. I am sure there are more that may come to mind. For those people living in a Rental Properties who are not required to pay Council Rates, perhaps a Rental Subsidy could be paid (equivalent to the rate subsidy of persons that own there own home.
Seniors need to be treated separately to Carers.
I and my late husband worked very hard over many years, paid our taxes willingly, paid our financial obligations (power, rates, water, rego, etc) now it is our turn to be looked after.
There are many Seniors in our communities that do volunteer work. Many hundreds/thousands of hours are given willingly. These are the things that one cannot put a value on, and yet the Government - current and past seem to want to quibble over a few measly dollars. SHAME on you people - you will all be old one day.
I'll end with stating that if the Concession Scheme is diluted further than it is now, then after 54/55 years of being calling myself a Territorian, I will be forced to re-locate interstate. The choice is yours Michael Gunner and your cohorts, don't let us down.

Having lived here for 60 years I have appreciated the concession scheme as it has negated some of the disadvantage of living in a regional area. I am not in favour of a new scheme being introduced but would like to see the current scheme revised to make it less cumbersome, more transparent with the necessary checks and balances to avoid abuse of the scheme. I would like to see it return to the pre CLP scheme.
However if a new scheme is introduced which would see me worse off I would be forced to leave my home of 60 years.

This is by far the worst decision this government has made. They talk about values, open and honest consultations none of this has been done. It has been a complete coverup since the changes were leaked.
There are members of the Senior Community that have worked hard over many years, they have worked overtime without financial reward to build this Territory and this is our reward. SHAME on you Michael, I was a great supporter.