Pensioners welcome concession backflip
QUEENSLAND pensioners have put their foot down on the latest State Budget, resulting in an unprecedented backflip by the Newman Government.
Warwick pensioners like Barry Johnstone, who were bracing for the worst, are now able to relax about pensioner concessions.
Mr Johnstone, who had already tightened his budget to the limits said he wouldn't have been able to cut back anywhere else.
"I have a light with an LED bulb in it and use that instead of any of my downlights to save power," he said. "But there is no way we could cut back on rego."
After losing his wife a few years ago, Mr Johnstone said living on a single pension was hard enough.
"I now have half as much help but the bills are the same - it's tough as it is," he said.
In the announcement yesterday, Premier Campbell Newman said the Government had heard Queenslanders' outcry to the budget.
"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 Newman said.
