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NewsTime to give the over 50's a voice in budget debates on tax, retirement and work
Time to give the over 50's a voice in budget debates on tax, retirement and work

Time to give the over 50's a voice in budget debates on tax, retirement and work

Tags: Consumer Action Consumer Quickshot FiftyUp Club
Last updated by Chris Zinn on

As debate hots up before the Federal Budget, it’s time to gauge the views of those most affected by the hip-pocket issues being discussed – the over-50s.

The 120,000-member FiftyUp Club has today launched its second annual pre-Budget survey, asking the over-50s what they think about:

  • Pensions and superannuation
  • Negative gearing,
  • The GST and
  • Working to age 70

Consumers over 50 can now give their views HERE on big questions such as whether access to the pension should be more strict, the GST should be extended, or negative gearing should be ended.

They’ll also be asked about work experiences ahead of the inquiry into discrimination against older workers, announced this week (see Appendix).

Last year’s FiftyUp Club Budget Survey attracted more than 6,500 responses on pensions, Medicare and other issues and was presented to the federal government. The same will be done this year.

“Big decisions in these areas affect us not just now but well into the future and will impact on how we plan, save and prepare — so it’s vital we have a voice in these debates,” says FiftyUp Club guest commentator Christopher Zinn.

“As a group with age and experience, but not always money and influence, we need to let decision-makers know what we think before it’s too late.”

The FiftyUp Club has over 120,000 members and uses their buying power to negotiate special offers and lobby on their behalf. It’s free to join at FiftyUpClub.com

Click Here to take our 5-Minute Survey

 

 

APPENDIX

Recent Budget Related News

  1. ‘Stop rich from using negative gearing to offset wages, save $1b : ACOSS’, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 April 2015 by Nassim Khadem Read Here
  2. ‘How a 12 per cent GST could deliver a $100,000 earner an income-tax cut of $34 a week’, News.com.au, 1 April 2015 by John Rolfe Read Here
  3. 'Tony Abbott pledges to protect our superannuation: No changes during his term of government and beyond’, The Daily Telegraph, 16 April 2015 by Simon Benson Read Here
  4. ‘Age Discrimination: Federal Government inquiry to examine barriers older workers face in finding jobs’, ABC Online, 15 April 2015 by Nick Dole Read Here
  5. ‘Opinion: Politicians can’t be trusted to make decisions about superannuation’, Courier Mail, 15 April 2015 by Jeff Kennett Read Here
Originally posted on .

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Time to give the over 50's a voice in budget debates on tax, retirement and work

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Max
Max from QLD commented:

At 87 I am pleased that I saw the BETTER years. With the increasing confusion associated with living, mainly caused by incapable politicians, I will be please to see life's end. Max Wilson 

Someone
Someone from QLD commented:

I think there is something that is happening but not being considered which is a very important factor on the age and ability to retire. Many mothers are having their children late in life, as I did, my last was at age 42. At the moment I am 56 with a 14 year old still to complete private school and make his way out into the world. Anything I can accumulate for retirement is a bonus on top of the costs of raising and educating children into my sixties. This will seriously need to be considered when thinking about taking anything way from aging people in our population. Everyone's circumstances are different. 

Keith
Keith from ACT commented:

There has been little discussion about de-linking health concessions from pension eligibility. Many people nearing retirement talk about organising their finances to qualify for a part pension, not because they they need the income, but because it provides some insurance against the unknowable increase in health cost as they age. Surely health concessions should be linked to need (ie your health expenditure) rather than whether or not you are elibible for an aged pension. 

Marjorie
Marjorie from NSW replied to Keith:

Marj from NSW I agree with you Keith health concession should be linked to need I am self funded, full time carer to my husband with cancer with significant medical bills and don't expect the tax payer to pick up my expenses, being able to draw down our super tax free is a great benefit. 

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