“Single pensioners in social housing would be better off moving to Queensland as of today, as the NSW Government starts to take 25 per cent of their 2009 pension rise in rent”, said Charmaine Crowe, CPSA Policy Coordinator.

“The $18.40 rent hike wipes out their September pension indexation rise of $15 per fortnight, which is to cover living cost increases. Instead, it will be going to Housing NSW”. 

“Despite the Queensland, Tasmanian, Northern Territory and South Australian governments agreeing to permanently exempt the $30 weekly pension rise from rent, NSW has point-blank refused”.

“Rents typically increase by a couple of dollars per week every March and September, due to indexation of income support payments”. 

“However, an extra $7.50 will be added to that amount for single pensioners this September, subjecting them to a ‘rent shock’”. 

“Despite the Federal Government’s $1.9 billion stimulus funding to construct 6,000 social housing dwellings in NSW by 2012[1], the number of dwellings is dropping, from 146,704 in 2007/08 to 144,439 as at June this year”.[2]   

“And this shows in the waiting list, which is almost back to 2006 levels at 43,335 (up from 39,484 as at June 2009)”.[3]

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Media contact: Charmaine Crowe

Ph: 0410 612 182