Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1996-02-28
When will the minister or the Department of Health Services treat pension card holders living away from the main town centres in the same way as pension card holders in the main town centres in terms of granting them the usual concessions on their sewerage rates and garbage rates when they make their own arrangements for sewerage and rubbish treatment and removal?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, coincidentally, the matter of concessions is currently under review across the board. Many of those concessions that are readily available have been extended to all Territorians, as one would expect them to be. The scheme in itself is the most generous in Australia. The main and principal feature of it is the 2-year half air fare entitlement for aged pensioners.
Mrs Padgham-Purich: I asked about concessions for rubbish disposal and sewerage costs, not air fares.
Mr FINCH: I am talking about a concession that is important and that is accessed by all Territorians.
The scheme has grown and the cost of the scheme has grown considerably over the last 5 to 10 years, both as a result of the increase in numbers of our senior citizens in particular and in the cost of some of the components delivered. As a consequence, the overall scheme is being reviewed. I assure the honourable member that these matters, which I believe she raised in the adjournment debate last night, will be addressed under that review.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, coincidentally, the matter of concessions is currently under review across the board. Many of those concessions that are readily available have been extended to all Territorians, as one would expect them to be. The scheme in itself is the most generous in Australia. The main and principal feature of it is the 2-year half air fare entitlement for aged pensioners.
Mrs Padgham-Purich: I asked about concessions for rubbish disposal and sewerage costs, not air fares.
Mr FINCH: I am talking about a concession that is important and that is accessed by all Territorians.
The scheme has grown and the cost of the scheme has grown considerably over the last 5 to 10 years, both as a result of the increase in numbers of our senior citizens in particular and in the cost of some of the components delivered. As a consequence, the overall scheme is being reviewed. I assure the honourable member that these matters, which I believe she raised in the adjournment debate last night, will be addressed under that review.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016