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Pensioners living on dog food: Fielding

Posted September 8, 2008 09:27:00
Updated September 8, 2008 09:35:00

Swan a disgrace: Family First Senator Steve Fielding (AAP: Alan Porritt, file photo)

Family First Senator Steve Fielding says it is unacceptable for Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan to acknowledge that he could not survive on the pension and then refuse to immediately boost the payment.

Yesterday Mr Swan said the pension rate was totally inadequate but he ruled out increasing the payment until a Treasury review reports back by February next year.

Senator Fielding says it is not good enough and the pension should immediately be boosted by $70 a week.

"We've had pensioners ringing our office and tell us that they're living on dog food," he said.

"That's disgraceful given that these are fellow Australians and we all know the pension is too low.

"What the Rudd Government's response is, they're telling pensioners to stop complaining and wait around another 300 days before they get any increase."

Tags: aged-care, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia

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Comments (114)

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Gary:

08 Sep 2008 9:42:46am

This man is an absolute disgrace and would be comical if he did't have a share of the balance of power.

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mitch:

08 Sep 2008 9:46:10am

and this is a labor problem because? because the liberals neglected to raise the pension when they were in power for over a decade? and its only just now Labors fault? these libs need to stop throwing stones at glass houses because they're in one! and fielding is sounding more and more like nelson maybe he should jump ship to the liberals

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Kathy:

08 Sep 2008 9:48:31am

Well said Mr Fielding. You are the MAN!

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Harding:

08 Sep 2008 9:48:51am

I think it is a disgrace. Mr Swan ought to support the elderly in our community by raising the pension. Shame labor, shame!

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jo blo:

08 Sep 2008 9:49:12am

Is this the same guy that refused the luxury car tax?

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Decade:

08 Sep 2008 9:50:34am

The liberals have had 10 years to increase the pension and did nothing. Pensioners are doing it tough and an increase should have been done long ago. It's a disgrace.

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Disappointed Again:

08 Sep 2008 9:51:04am

Shame on politicians who award themselves remuneration increases and live executive lifestyles while the generations that came before them "live" poverty stricken from pension day to pension day...

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roger b.:

08 Sep 2008 9:51:44am

Is this the same pensioners that were ringing howards office for 12 years Mr . Fielding ????? This just shows that the religious right(family first, after profits to the mining and oil industry) is just a break away liberal party and would not listen to the greens idea about the luxury car tax.He should try living on a sickness benifit of $442.90 a fortnight ($221.45 a week). And its CAT FOOD not dog food.

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Skewer:

08 Sep 2008 9:51:51am

Sounds like pensions need a boost - fair enough - but Fielding is showing he doesn't know anything about budget processes.

Government can't suddenly just spend a few extra billions on the spur of the moment - correct budget processes need to be followed - this is one of the reasons we have a functional accountable democracy, not a Mugabe style random spending machine!

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MarkW:

08 Sep 2008 9:52:08am

Our local butcher sells dog mince for 50 cents a kilo compared to between eight and ten dollars a kilo for regular mince.

If you're hungry, it's better than nothing. Perhaps they should server it in Parliaments' cafeteria.

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LizB:

08 Sep 2008 9:52:14am

This guy needs to sit down, shut up, and learn a bit about being in Federal Politics.

Yes, the pension is a disgrace. No, it's not Labor's fault. My grandmother lives on the pension, and whilst she's not living on dog food, she does manage to stretch absolutely every cent.

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matt jacobs:

08 Sep 2008 9:53:33am

Fielding, problem with it is Labor will want to raise the pension but it will be the libs in the senate that will block it!!! and they'll give the excuse "it will add to inflation"

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NT boy:

08 Sep 2008 9:53:46am

Well if Fielding didn't pass the luxury car tax and is saying he is going to block other things in the budget, how can the government allocate extra money when he is creating holes in budget just to get headlines... some of that half billion he blocked may have been released - but its not there anymore because of him.. He no longer has any credability to comment.

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Jeremy:

08 Sep 2008 9:57:55am

That's stupid, there is cheaper real food than dog food. What about Mi Goreng 2 minute noodles. I know this because I'm a full time student, which means I get even less money than pensioners.

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Jonno:

08 Sep 2008 9:59:47am

That picture of Steve Fielding should have the caption "Fielding showing how people eat dog food."

Seriously though, Steve "Dont tax the rich" Fielding is obviously barking up the wrong tree. His mate John Howard still has a lot to answer for.

And really maybe they have to eat dog food, because they cant afford to buy proper food from the ever more profitable "Fresh dog food people".

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Horry:

08 Sep 2008 10:00:50am

Why are SOME pensioners able to avoid eating dog food?

Aren't pension rates the same in all States of the Commonwealth?

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stephen:

08 Sep 2008 10:04:09am

Raise the pension now and abolish it altogether next year. It's a saving made now for the future. Seen Soilent Green?

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Peter H:

08 Sep 2008 10:12:47am

Mr Fielding is ridiculous - people rang his office and told him they were living on 'dog food'. Rubbish. Ask them to prove it Mr Fielding. Surely you don't believe everything someone spouts to you on a phone line. If you do you are very foolish. But then in the past few weeks you have shown that to be the case anyway.
Remember a few years ago when a TV station current affairs program ran the same rubbish? It turned out the bloke only did it to get on TV.
Tinned food can be purchased as cheaply as dog food so why would someone opt for dogfood unless they were deranged.
Fielding needs to get real.
Yes single pensioners need an increase but a PROPER increase which is worked out correctly and is permanent.
This has not been the case in the past and I am pleased that Swan is actually looking at it properly.

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Michael:

08 Sep 2008 10:13:54am

hmmm, weet bix is cheaper than dog food so what's going on there! the pension is too low, yes, but exaggeration won't help the campaign...

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Brett:

08 Sep 2008 10:19:30am

Homebrand bread 99c

Homebrand noodles 99c

Tuna $1.50 a can

Cherry Tomatoes at Franklins 99c a punnett.

Soup packs $2.99

Dog food anywhere between 99c and $2-3

It's a beat up...

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emhart:

08 Sep 2008 10:20:22am

I have read of and seen reported on TV news that pensioners have been living on dog food for at least the last 40 years! I don't believe that I have ever seen these claims substantiated.

Could the politician making the the claim now be asked to provide some actual evidence to support his claim?

I know quite a few people living on the pension, none of whom has ever been reduced to eating dog food or indeed pet food of any kind. It is quite clear the pensioners do not live in luxury. It is my belief that they should get more but I do not see how sensationalist and undocumented claims help their cause. It really seems to me that the member is sensationalising an issue for his own exlusive benefit.

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Tony:

08 Sep 2008 10:21:12am

1. I agree with Senator Fielding - I am a pensioner and I know what we get.........Anyone who does not have to live on what is being dished out in the age pension will not know the difficulties faced. You have to play the game before you can interpret the rules and it makes me very angry indeed to see criticisms of any sort of Fielding over this particular aspect. The age pension has been and still remains a disgusting level of support for older Australians. For those who have commented negatively, just try living on about $550 a fortnight and see what happens........Go on, I dare you !!!!!!!! You cannot do it without living in poverty.

2. With respect to the comment on Fielding blocking the tax on luxury cars, this is just too rich to not add my view. Well done for blocking the tax Senator Fielding because the tax is based on the wrong premise: soak the rich. Even one of the luxury car makers has commented that he would have no objections to a tax on fuel efficiency, and really, that is the way to go...Not a tax on luxury, but a tax on how well the vehicle uses its fuel. In other words, huge petrol guzzling vehicles would be hit hard, more environmentally friendly vehicles would not be hit as hard, if at all. The tax as rejected is aimed at the wrong target completely and I am pleased to see it gone.

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Lynne:

08 Sep 2008 10:21:52am

It wasn't just the pension that Liberals refused to raise. It was all Social Security except for the Baby bonus.
Divorced single mothers suddenly thrown onto Newstart when their youngest turns sixteen or those struggling on Austudy or youth allowance are doing it even harder than pensioners. From my position the pension looks downright luxurious with their different concessions and utility allowances and higher rate than austudy.
People have to constantly go to welfare agencies to help them survive.
John Howard also eradicated the Widows Allowance which was virtually the equivalent of the pension.
There is a lot of older people whose job skills are redundant or they never had them as they were mothers of large families who can't get jobs and are in just as desperate circumstances as pensioners.
All Social security is inadequate and that is one of the reasons there is a shortage of many professionals including doctors, nurses, teachers and why our society is now riddled with crime undertaken by those starving on the streets.
Have a listen to this weeks Background Briefing and listen to the disgraceful state of affairs for our youth.
We live in a society that panders to the rich and continues to go down that divisive path. We're rapidly starting to follow the script of many third world countries that are looked on solely as service centers for multi-nationals.

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Big L:

08 Sep 2008 10:23:58am

In all Honesty... Pensioners should be getting the Average Wage Allowance.
That's if you want to play FAIR!!

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Sibad:

08 Sep 2008 10:25:45am

It just goes to show that intelligence or the lack of is not a barrier to success in Australian politics.

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NT boy:

08 Sep 2008 10:29:06am

I own a dog, and if they can afford dog food they are getting to much.. *joke - people*

Seriously, the eating of dogfood by the poor is just an urbane myth taken to the extreme by a headline grabbing media junky who is so out of touch with families that the name of his party is the bigest ironical joke in Australian politics.

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pmoes:

08 Sep 2008 10:29:11am

That comment is a load of crap.
Tinned dog food is just as expensive (if not more so) as buying a can of stewed beef for humans. (mmmm Kr*ft Braised Steak and Onions)
Pensioners who may be eating tinned dog food, probably by mistake, have been neglected by their family and community and that is where the fault lies.
I agree pensioners should be paid more money.
I agree teachers should be paid more money.
I believe our defence force should be paid more money.
I agree that Steven Fielding is handing in his retirement notice by siding with the Liberal Party to stop the tax increases on items that the more wealthy can afford to pay.
He will be thrown out at the next election, regardless of which major party wins

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macca:

08 Sep 2008 10:31:54am

I find it difficult to believe that there are really people living on dog food. I think Senator Fielding is using a cliche' for political purposes. Why would people be actually living on dog food? It's not as if dog food is cheaper than human food? If there really are those who are living on dog food I would be so blunt as to suggest that they need more than just financial help....

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Jack Dore:

08 Sep 2008 10:33:25am

The of pensioners is closer to 2 million (varying categories). If things are so bad that dog food is being eaten (I am a little skeptical about this, but anyway), to make a significant difference, I estimate $50 a week would be needed ($10 a week is laughable). This equates to $5.2billion.

Even $20 a week extra is a bit over $2billion.

If the govt is to find this sort of money, on top of the extra billions people are screaming for to go into health, education etc, everyone is going to have to give up something, be it tax cuts, other low cost services, pay extra taxes ...

And don't forget the number of pensioners is increasing every year (have seen projections of over 3 million by 2021).

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Angus:

08 Sep 2008 10:35:08am

All his behaviour so far in the parliment points to him being a Liberal proxy. Fancy calling him Family Fist. if anything they are hardly family first.

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peter:

08 Sep 2008 10:36:06am

Labor have themselves to blame for letting the Fielding jeanie out of the bottle. He got some minute primary vote in the election before last and jumped ahead of the Greens and others for the last Senate spot in Victoria with preferences from Labor. Bet they're regretting that one. Sometimes the Labor preference negotiators need their heads read.

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Lassie:

08 Sep 2008 10:39:10am

Why won't anyone think of the hidden victims of this story? Labradors, Chihuahuas, and Pit Bulls alike, forced to endure human food like fresh fruit and vegetables or rare barbecued steaks with overly rich mushroom sauce all because those selfish pensioners are cutting into Australia's supply of quality jellied offal. Maybe next time Fielding opens his snout, he should think of little Rover, howling into his food bowl.

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Deesy:

08 Sep 2008 10:40:09am

Being on a carer's pension I agree that everyone needs an increase to keep up with the cost of living, food & petrol but dog food??? come on.... bloody dog food is very expensive...how about hot dogs, cereal, store brand canned goods.....let's no over exaggerate!! Perhaps the folks eating dog food are spending their pension on lottery tickets, cigarettes and booze.

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Rosie:

08 Sep 2008 10:41:22am

As a student, this topic gets me so incensed! Pensiors have DOUBLE to live on what students do (we get $235 a fortnight and it is docked if we earn any money). We have to pay rent, groceries, text books when most pensioners already have a home (no rent) and seem to spend so much free time at cafes and eating out...if you work for forty years it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make sure you are set up for life after work and you shouldn't rely entirely on the government. Student allowance is what really needs to be addressed.

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Dan :

08 Sep 2008 10:42:57am

Will everybody just admit that the pension is too low and fix it. Stop wasting oxygen trying to aportion blame.
It's broke , fix it, get on with life.

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Pensioners living on dog food: Fielding

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