MEDIA RELEASE: Pensioners Protest Hardship

Victoria’s pensioners are today protesting the rising cost of living, saying daily necessities like food, utilities and transport have increased disproportionately against the pension.

Today pensioners are calling for increased concessions and rebates, improved public transport options and guaranteed access to health and aged care services.

More than 100 pensioners rallied on the steps of the State Library, before taking over two trams to get to Federation Square.

The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria Chairperson, Joe Caputo said the issue affected Victoria’s ethnic community.

“The majority of full pensioners in Victoria are from non-English-speaking backgrounds,” he said.

“We support today’s protest because the cost of living, cost of food, costs of utilities have increased and we expect it to increase more, while on the other hand there has been only minor increases in the pension.

“Pensioners from a culturally diverse background worked hard all their lives to grow the Victorian economy and have made really significant contributions and now deserve to live a comfortable life into their golden years.”

The protest was organised by the Fair Go For Pensioners Coalition, which is made up of numerous representatives from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), COTA and ECCV.

 “The cost of living is increasing out of proportion and pensioners are already facing real hardship,” Mr Caputo said.