Media release
Palmer United Party senators-elect have met today and endorsed a private member’s bill which will link the age of entitlement to the aged pension with the parliamentary pensions offered to members of both houses of federal parliament.
Palmer United Party federal leader and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer, said the party strongly opposes the Abbott government’s plans to restrict access to the aged pension until the age of 70 by 2035.
Mr Palmer said the government should also change the parliamentary pension scheme to bring it into line with what they are proposing for the rest of the nation.
“The nation should be allowed to receive the same treatment from Tony Abbott that he has given to all political colleagues,” Mr Palmer said.
“He has frozen politicians wages so it is now time to treat parliamentary pensions on the same basis as eligibility for the aged pension.
“Let’s see if the Treasurer Joe Hockey and his colleagues are happy to join in the heavy lifting he expects pensioners to do. They should lead by example and make one rule for all.
“What they are doing is just disadvantaging elderly Australians in the twilight of their life and plundering the nation’s finances.”
Mr Palmer said the only way to stop the government’s raid on pensions and superannuation is for Australians to vote for the Palmer United Party.