SIGN THE PETITION FOR OUR REGIONAL SENIORS

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh urges local residents to sign a petition pressuring the Labor government to keep a hugely successful cost-of-living measure for regional seniors.

The Coalition rolled out the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card in 2019, and more than a million cards have been distributed since. But after cutting off applications for the card in July, Labor on Saturday announced a 4c per litre reduction in fuel for seniors at United service stations.

“Labor’s announcement on Saturday is a weak attempt to compensate eligible seniors, and signals that Labor plans on cutting the Regional Seniors Travel Card in September’s Budget,” said Mr Singh, Shadow Minister for Tourism, Emergency Services and the North Coast.

“This scheme makes it impossible for seniors living in our region to save as much as they do with our card.

“Under Labor’s plan, you’d need to be filling your car twice a week to get the same savings as the Regional Seniors Travel Card. Most seniors don’t drive anywhere near that much, and won’t save anywhere near as much as they did under the Coalition’s Card.

“For Labor to pass this off as a genuine cost-of-living measure for regional seniors is laughable. They should keep the Regional Seniors Travel Card because it was a good program that made a meaningful difference to the lives of seniors in our regional communities.

“Labor continues to prove they’re only interested in Sydney.”

To sign the petition, people are urged to visit www.savethetravelcard.com.au and follow the prompts.

The petition is also available for signing at Mr Singh’s electorate office, Suite 1/9 Park Avenue Coffs Harbour.