Retired members of the Australian Public Service are to host a meet-the-candidates event in Canberra this Friday (3 May) to quiz election hopefuls on their policies for a better deal for former APS employees.
President of the Australian Council of Public Sector Retiree Organisations (ACPSRO), Richard Griffiths has issued invitations to sitting MP Andrew Leigh (ALP), Senator Zed Seselja (Liberal) and hopefuls Penny Kyburz (Greens) and Anthony Pesec (Independent).
“To date Dr Leigh and Mr Pesec have confirmed their attendance and we await confirmation from the other two candidates,” Mr Griffiths said.
He said candidates would be asked to answer retirees’ questions on a number of matters including the failure of public sector pensions to keep up with retirees’ costs of living, and what they thought the Consumer Price Index pension indexation was supposed to achieve.
“Also up for discussion would be the 2015 Budget measure known as the 10 per cent cap, which severely affected many public sector retirees on low or modest pensions although ostensibly targeting those on larger pensions,” Mr Griffiths said.
“Other matters include the ALP’s proposed elimination of ‘unused’ imputation tax credits; the progressive tightening of the assets and/or income tests for the Age Pension, and the deeming rates for assets under the Age Pension assets test.”
He said other issues affecting retirees could be raised from the floor.
The meeting will take place at the Antill Room, Ainslie Football Club on Friday, 3 May beginning at 1pm.
Attendance is free and everyone is invited.
