Carry card money over

Warren-Blackwood MLA Terry Redman has put a call out for a rollover of unspent money on pensioners’ fuel cards.

The Country Age Pension Fuel Card provides eligible pensioners with $575 each financial year towards the cost of fuel or taxi transport.

This recognises that pensioners in metropolitan areas have access to free public transport, which is not the case in regional areas.

Mr Redman has called for unspent money on allocated cards to be rolled over to the 2020-21 financial year.

“Due to social distancing requirements and travel restrictions, many CAPFC holders will be unable to expend the full value of their fuel cards this financial year,” he said.

“Many of these card holders will not expend their $575 values and lose any unspent credit at the end of the financial year.”

Mr Redman said rolling over the unspent fuel card values would also help pensioners struggling with high fuel prices in the regions.

“While the State Government has distanced itself from addressing this unfair petrol price situation, most regional residents are still paying at least 30 cents per litre more than metropolitan residents,” he said.

“Regional pensioners have already been hit hard this year with inflated prices on groceries due to COVID-19 and any assistance the State Government can provide to counteract unreasonable petrol pricing should be considered.”

Mr Redman, along with the rest of the South West MPs, have been fighting for fairer-priced fuel for in regional WA and have sent a joint letter to fuel companies.

Nationals WA Mia Davies said the fuel card scheme helped keep pensioners connected and active in their communities and allowed them to attend medical appointments, go grocery shopping and visit family members.