Robocalls target local pensioners

A “deceitful” union robocall campaign is targeting Geelong pensioners about their entitlements, according to a local federal MP.
The ACTU age pension campaign was “designed to scare older Australians and their families”, said Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson.
“Over the past 48 hours the ACTU has hit thousands of homes in Corangamite and across the country with unsolicited robocalls,” she said.
“Corangamite pensioners deserve better than union-funded lies from people who don’t have the courage to put their names to these intrusive and alarming phone calls.
“Older Australians need to be respected, not made to be fearful.”
The robocalls were related to pending Turnbull Government changes to pensions, including tighter assets testing.
“Very few” people would lose their pensions under the changes, Ms Henderson said.
“The facts are that more than 90 per cent of pensioners will not be affected or will be better off as a result of these changes.”
“Some 170,000 Australian pensioners with modest assets will be better off… and from 1 January 2017 will receive an $30 extra per fortnight.
“The family home will continue to be excluded from the pension assets test. There is absolutely no change to this policy.”
Under the changes couple pensioners would still receive “some pension” if they had up to $816,000 in assets and owned their homes or if they had up to $1 million in assets but were not home-owners, Ms Henderson said.
“Anyone who loses their pension all together, which is very few people, will continue to have access to a health care card.”
The robocalls feature a voice identified as ‘Leanne’ saying: “I’m worried about my dad.
“He’s just had a letter from the government saying Malcolm Turnbull will be cutting his pension. He’s a retiree on a fixed income and really needs the pension just to get by each week.
“Him and mum worked hard their whole lives, so how can the government suddenly make changes now?
“And just before Christmas?”