Abbott and the meaning of the word NO!

And just what is it that you don't understand by the word NO, Mr Abbott ???

Abbott’s election promise on the Age Pension

• ABBOTT: No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS.
• (Tony Abbott – SBS Interview – 6 September 2013)
•  ABBOTT: I can assure your listeners that there will be no cuts to health, no cuts to education, no cuts to pensions, no change to the GST
• (Tony Abbott – 5 September – ABC AM)
•  ABBOTT: There are no cuts to health. No cuts to education. Pensions don’t change. The GST doesn’t change.
• (Tony Abbott – Speech to the National Press Club – 2 September 2013)

Mr Hockey’s latest attack on seniors has been heavily criticised by seniors and the Labor Party, with opposition spokeswoman for families Jenny Macklin saying the legislated rise to 67 had not even begun yet.

The government would also need to account for serious age discrimination in the workplace before lifting the retirement age to 70, she said.

Jill Hall, federal Labor member for Shortland, where most of her constituents are seniors, says it appeared Prime Minister Tony Abbott was reneging on a pre-election promise that there would be no cuts or changes to pensions.

‘‘It might be all right for someone in an office job but when you’re doing manual work your body gives out,’’  she added.

Cory Wright from the Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union said the proposal wouldn’t be fair to those on average incomes.

‘‘It’s already hard enough for a person on an average wage to reach retirement age and have any benefits from their super,’’ the Cardiff-based state organiser said.

A leading economics consultant believed poor and disadvantaged Australians should be quarantined from spending cuts, despite Mr Hockey insisting everyone needs to  do some ‘‘heavy lifting’’ as he restores order to the budget.

Newcastle Herald Survey 15 April 2014