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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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John
John from QLD commented:

I will be 76 this year and still working part time. Fortunately I am self employed so it is a matter of choice however I am actually too frightened to stop work all together as I do not know if my wife and I can survive on just the pension. Suck on that Joe Hockey! We are most disgusted that some persons on the dole can afford all their tattoos - have they ever been asked about that? As for working to 70 - Great idea but where do the jobs come from? Ford going, Holden going, Toyota going. Mining in a slump. Perhaps we should all run for parliament - HA! 

Paul
Paul from NSW commented:

When you ask loaded questions....you get "loaded answers" ! Have you stopped beating your wife ? yes/no ? 

sinikka
sinikka from NSW commented:

dole bludgers get it too easy we old people have made huge contribution to tjhis country but who give as shit no one get rhose bludeeger off they arse and get to to work. And centrelink stop paying benefits eg,: a guy works full time( I have all info) prove gets disability pension lives with de facto and gives wrong address centrelink she also claims full pension onthese arew only to name a few get a reality check centrelink 

sinikka
sinikka from NSW commented:

self funded retirees have paid huge taxes over the years as we have and we now get nil benefits it stinks! 

Susanne
Susanne from NSW commented:

We have a negative geared property in far north Queensland. It has not been a good investment at all. We actually can't afford another property and I don't really know how our retirement will be funded. One thing for sure I am sick of sooooooo many taxes. Taxed for every little thing and no increase to wages. They say wages have increased. Well I am sorry but I haven't seen that. Must only be the fat cats getting fatter! 

Marne
Marne from SA replied to Susanne:

Fat cats have had MASSIVE increases 

Gary
Gary from TAS commented:

What about some solutions to let these things in the questions happen 

Gary
Gary from TAS commented:

What about some solutions to let these things in the question happen 

Ray
Ray from NSW commented:

I am alarmed that the Govt wants people to work until they are 70... How does this give any chance of a school leaver getting a job. How does a school leave get work experience if all the jobs are held by people 65 and older... put some one on the pension at 65.. how long do you pay it compared to putting some one at 17 on the dole... 

Lee
Lee from QLD commented:

The current government is relying on Trickle Down economics by allowing those on high incomes to minimise their tax allowing those at the lower end of the scale (middle and low income earners) to carry the burden. This has certainly not worked in the U K or USA where it has been the current policy direction since 2003. The disparity between the extremely wealthy and the middle income earners has widened. Why do we in Australia insist on following others poor decisions and pander to the wealthy? 

Keith
Keith from QLD commented:

Politicians should leave politics with just their superannuation. No special benefits, no offices, no staff, no travel and phone allowances. Previous Prime Ministers should not have any other benefits like offices, staff, travel or phones. 

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