Cut back on motorways before cutting the elderly's entitlements

Transport Minister Stephen Joyce should start looking at cut-backs to roading before attacking the elderly’s right to get about, said Green Party Aged Care spokesperson Sue Kedgley.

The Government is considering cutting back public transport services enjoyed by the elderly through the SuperGold Card. 540,000 people aged 65 and over have SuperGold Cards and they were used for eight million trips on buses, trains and ferries last year.

“If any project is called a motorway the Key Government can’t bend over far enough to find an extra billion dollars or so to throw on the tarmac,” said Ms Kedgley.

“As soon as public transport is involved the Government all of a sudden sees cost blowouts and moves to cut back.

“The SuperGold Card has been a stunning success and helped keep our elder citizens mobile and social. Any moves to cut these services will lead to more old people staying at home and less social cohesion.

“When times are tough surely the Government should be encouraging people to get out and about,” said Ms Kedgley.

“The elderly are consumers who keep local cafes and small businesses going. By penny pinching with regard to the SuperGold Card the Government will end up costing jobs.”

“Given the recent cut-backs to the public service, it would seem the only thing National knows about jobs is how to lose them,” Ms Kedgley said.