Kawana pensioners who benefit from concession payments will not suffer any reduction in payments after the Queensland Government announced it would cover cuts announced in the Federal Budget.

Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said the Queensland Government had listened to Queenslanders’ concerns and will act.

“Pensioners and older Queenslanders have told us that they simply can’t wear the cost of filling the gap between Queensland’s increased contribution, and the Commonwealth Government’s concessions cuts and increased fees and taxes,” Mr Bleijie said.

“We’ve not only listened to Queenslanders, but we’ve acted, within the space of two days, to reinstate the full level of pensioner and senior concessions.

“Passing on part of the Commonwealth’s cuts to pensioner concessions is clearly not an acceptable outcome for Queenslanders.

“It is only the LNP Government that has a strong plan for Kawana pensioners, demonstrated in this week’s state budget which increased concessions by $26 million.

“In contrast, Queensland Labor sits silent on the carbon tax, one of the biggest cost of living impacts on pensioners.” Premier Campbell Newman said the Commonwealth should be bearing the burden of these cuts, not Queenslanders.

“We will be continuing to send a clear message to the Commonwealth that Queenslanders won’t stand for these kinds of cuts,” Mr Newman said.

“It is the Commonwealth Government that’s caused this problem with pensioner cuts and increased charges.

“We’re very conscious of the ‘double whammy’ impact of the Federal Government’s changes to pensions and the removal of concessions funding.”