Page 1108 - Week 04 - Thursday, 1 April 1993

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LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION N0. 515

Pensioner Concessions

MRS CARNELL - Asked the Minister for Health upon Notice on 16 February 1993:

In relation to the announcement that all pensioners will be eligible to the full range of Commonwealth and State fringe benefits from April 1993 regardless of income:

1) How many pensioners in the ACT will be affected by the change.

2) How much will the extended concessions cost the ACT Government.

3) What level of compensation is being paid to the ACT

Government by the Commonwealth.

4) Will the ACT be "out of pocket" as a result of the

Commonwealth offer to pensioners.

5) What are the ACT Government funded concessions to pensioners.

6) How much will these concessions cost the ACT Government.

CHIEF MINISTER

The answer to the members question is as follow:-

1) Based on figures provided by the Commonwealth Department

of Social Security in 1992, an additional 3,264 people

will benefit from the changes. The Department of Social

Security is in the process of compiling updated figures.

2) The cost of providing concessions to the extended group

of beneficiaries is estimated at $1,000,000 per annum

based on the 1992 figures provided by the Department of

Social Security. This amount will be revised when the

Department of Social Security provides an update of the

number of people currently receiving the benefits.

3) The Commonwealths initial offer to the ACT was $700,000

per annum with a pro rata payment for the period April to

June 1993. However, in a letter to me dated 4 February

1993, the Prime Minister stated that States and

Territories would be eligible also for compensation for

any additional verifiable costs of extension which are

not reasonably covered by this amount. These

arrangements will apply for the 1992/93 financial year only.


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