Grey Power Reacts To Budget

Grey Power National President Graham Stairmand states "That while Grey Power supports the "Working for Families" programme in the Budget and commend the Government for the assistance this will give to families, we would have liked to have seen the same offer for Grandparents raising grandchildren as these Grandparents forego much of their income to ensure the childrens' welfare and it would certainly benefit these families if they were offered the same assistance."

He is pleased with the initiative that will see those, over 65 that are members of a PHO, receive reduced doctors' fees and a subscription charge of $3-00. However, he expresses his concern that not elderly have PHOs established in their areas.

"The increase in funding so that the number of major joint replacements can be doubled is welcomed with enthusiasm, as this is a cause of immobility to our members," he says. "We further applaud the initiative to remove circumstances that inhibit the use of work-based superannuation schemes, the like of which were so prevalent in the years up to the 1980s."

Mr Stairmand states "While the budget did not specifically target the elderly, we do applaud the above initiatives."

Mr Graham Stairmand National President Grey Power Federation NZ Inc Ph 03 351 5392

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