Letter to the Editor: Support for pensioners

DEAR News Of The Area,

I WOULD like to see our State MP try to get some assistance for pensioners who have to get orthotics as part of their medical or physical treatment.

I would also seek financial assistance in gym membership fees for pensioners.

Orthotics are around $600 a pair and gym memberships are $800 per year, so I would be looking at a 50 percent contribution from the Minns Government.

The reasons are simple, if the government wants older Australians to remain in their homes and stay out of nursing homes, then they should be assisting those of us on fixed incomes.

I would like to give just a couple of examples in support of what I am seeking for pensioners on fixed incomes.

Could I point out that the Minns Government is about to spend $700 million on an underestimated cost of a hospital in the Sydney area, this to me is incompetence in finance.

The Minns Government is also to spend $500 million on domestic violence matters.

I am 74 years old, and I have heard about DV for my whole life and governments of the day have not improved this rather sad saga.

Throwing money at it will not solve the problem as they have all tried this method and it does not work as proven by the increasing numbers of DV cases each year.

To top things off the Minns Government is spending $23 million on catching up on elective surgery.

So $700 million via Incompetence, $500 million on domestic violence and a paltry $23 million on tax payers who are seeking minor but important to them operations.

What I am asking for would not be a great deal of money but it would be a step in the right direction for looking after the older community.

You know how when the elections are close, politicians start telling us how they will fix things and give the taxpayer what they want, what childcare needs and even how they will look after the older community?

Well, how about doing what you all have promised.

Regards,
Barry DOWSE,
Port Macquarie.