Member for Moore Shane Love has welcomed an increase to the Country Age Pension Fuel card, adding it is long overdue.
From 1 July 2024, the value of the card – available to pensioners who live in an eligible West Australian local government area – will increase from $575 to $675.
Mr Love said the lengthy wait for a boost meant the $100 extra to the card was a cynical ploy in the final budget ahead of the 2025 state election next March.
“The government has been ignoring the pleas of pensioners in the regions for years,” he said.
“These are the people who have worked hard in regional communities all their lives and now find more than ever they have to travel to buy food, attend medical appointments or find a bank.
“Invariably fuel costs more in the regions but their pleas have been ignored until we find ourselves approaching an election year.”
Mr Love said Labor’s messaging around their ‘commitment to providing cost of living relief for all West Australians’ was by no means sincere.
“Fares for Perth residents have been capped at two zones and Metro passengers enjoyed the summer of free travel between Christmas eve and 28 January 2024,” he added.
“These concessions are just not available to residents in the regions, where public transport is strictly limited, taxis are often not available and fuel generally costs more.
“That is why The Nationals WA introduced the Country Age Pension Fuel Card in 2009 for the purchase of fuel or taxi travel.”
Mr Love said Labor needed to link the Country Age Pension Fuel Card to the Consumer Price Index, to reflect inflationary pressures.
To apply for a fuel card go to: https://www.wa.gov.au/service/communityservices/rural-community-development/how-apply-country-age-pension-fuel-card
