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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-05-12 Daily Xml
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SELF-FUNDED RETIREES

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): My question is to the Premier. Will the combined effect of federal government cuts to benefits to self-funded retirees and the state's land tax regime force more self-funded retirees onto the pension? Self-funded retirees living off property investment income have expressed alarm about significant rises in state land taxes over recent years eating into their retirement income. The federal government has foreshadowed that the tax-free status of super for the over-60s will end, that tax breaks for imputation credits will be lost, that a 15 per cent surcharge on super savings is likely to return and that private healthcare benefits will be reduced.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:25): Can I just say that it is extremely difficult to answer a question about a budget document that none of us has seen. It is actually hypothetical; we have not seen what the decision is. One thing I can say is that what I would like to see in tonight's budget is a lift in the pension. That is what we all want to see.

We are playing our part in terms of offering totally free public transport on trains, on trams and on our buses for people who are holders of a Seniors Card—hundreds of thousands of South Australians—at off-peak times from 9am until 3pm during weekdays and on weekends and public holidays. We are not responsible for the pension. I would like to see an increase in the pension tonight to perfectly dovetail into what we are offering for senior South Australians with totally free public transport.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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