LISMORE MP Janelle Saffin is keeping the pressure on the NSW Government to sort out what she calls 'very public stuff-ups' in rolling out its regional seniors travel card on the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Saffin last week in Parliament questioned NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole during debate and lodged two related Questions on Notice following a steady flow of complaints from constituents about the rollout.
READ ALSO:
"Last week the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services (Gareth Ward MP) said that people with a disability in New South Wales must not be used to balance the Federal budget," she said in her question directed at Minister Toole.
"Why then is the Government short-changing senior disability pensioners and senior carers by excluding them from the $250 regional seniors travel card?"
Mr Toole told the Parliament: "When the $250 card was announced other groups asked whether they could be included. I have had discussions with my department about looking at the programs and schemes that are already in place to see whether they are servicing the people they reach out to."
Ms Saffin and other Labor MPs believed Minister Toole had deflected her question in debate, so she lodged it as a Question on Notice, to which he must respond by April 2 this year.
Her Questions on Notice were:
- Why is the Government excluding senior disability pensioners and senior carers from the $250 regional seniors travel card?
- Why do veterans and war widows have to wait between two and two and a half months to receive the regional seniors travel card?
- Will the Government immediately implement a manual system to accept applications for the $250 regional seniors travel card without further delay, if the applicant has a Department of Veterans' Affairs card?
Ms Saffin said the Nationals were quick to promise the regional senior travel card to all seniors, but had been slow and tardy in delivery.
