Grafton Nationals MP Richie Williamson said the abolition of the popular $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card, at the same time the Labor Government is lavishing Gold Opal Cards on seniors in Sydney, is unforgiveable.
Mr Williamson said the Labor Government claims its 4 cents per litre shopper docket, which can only be used at United service stations, is the same thing as the $250 Regional Seniors Travel card introduced by NSW Nationals in government.
It is not.
"Imagine an elderly couple in Coraki or Glenreagh wanting go for a day by the seaside at Evans Head of Wooli," Mr Williamson said.
"They could have used the travel card to fill up at their local servo, but with Labor's shopper docket they would have to drive the opposite direction to Casino or Grafton to claim the miserly 4 cent per litre discount as the only United servos in my patch are in the two major towns. It would actually cost them more!"
Mr Williamson said in order to match the fuel savings of the travel card seniors would have to buy 6,250 litres of petrol in 12 months at a cost of about $12,000 every year.
"The rip-off is all the more galling as the Labor Government is currently advertising huge discounts for Sydney seniors," Mr Williamson said.
The NSW Government website promises a Gold Opal Card for Seniors Card holders that delivers "Unlimited travel for $2.50 a day … get around as much as you want on metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail" in areas including Sydney, the Blue Mountains, and the Central Coast.
Mr Williamson said this showed just how much worse off senior motorists in regional NSW have become under Labor.
"Local seniors in my electorate have made it very clear how much they appreciate the extra bit of help they get with the travel card by completing my recent survey, calling and e-mailing my office and signing the Petition the NSW Nationals have launched to try and save the card from the chopping block," Mr Williamson said.
If you haven't already signed the Petition, it's not too late. You can do so here – www.nswnationals.org.au/save-the-travel-card
