Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch is upping the pressure on the State Government to explain the silence on the suspension of the Regional Seniors Travel Card, with applications for the card being suspended on July 7.
Applications were previously open until November.
“It’s unacceptable that our seniors are now being disadvantaged by this government, and that the supposed strong Central Coast Labor voices in government are now silent as a whisper on the matter,” Crouch said.
He said that with more than 47,000 seniors on the Central Coast applying for the card, the move to suspend applications is a “kick in the guts” for the region’s seniors.
“It’s an absurdity that applications have been suspended,” he said.
“This card has been extremely successful not only in the uptake of the card, but also in bringing down the cost-of-living for our seniors.
“It’s clear that the next step for this State Labor Government is to cut the program entirely, and disadvantage not only the tens-of-thousands of Central Coast seniors, but all seniors in regional NSW.”
But Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the Minister had instructed the department to pause applications for the card following the confirmation it operated in the same manner as the Regional Apprentice and University Students Travel Card and could be used to pay for non-travel related expenses at service stations, such as cigarettes and junk food.
“The department has been directed to investigate options to remediate the issues this card has and report back to the Minister,” he said.
“ We anticipate advice back in about two weeks.”
Meanwhile, Crouch is urging residents to sign his petition to save the Regional Seniors Travel Card at savethetravelcard.com.au
Terry Collins