The federal government has announced its intention to reduce the higher rebate for Private Health Insurance for people 65 and over, saving around $750 million p.a. This would make the rebate consistent regardless of age. It could increase out-of-pocket premiums by more than $1000 a year for a couple with "gold" cover insurance. Organisations that represent older Australians are demanding the opposite be the case, they want urgent action to reduce the cost of private health for the elderly.

On top of the $62.2 billion p.a paid directly to pensioners as cash payments, a further $47 billion is invested by the federal government in the aged care sector, that's an average of nearly $8,000 per year for every older Australian. $24.2 billion goes to funding permanent residential aged care facilities and nursing homes. $12.9 billion is directed toward supporting older Australians living independently, $8.7 billion in home care packages. $3.3 billion for the Commonwealth Home Support Program for the elderly, other minor expenditure accounts for another $3 billion .

With an ever increasing aged population, and with the taxpaying pool ever decreasing, this kind of mind boggling expenditure of more than $110 billion annually is not sustainable long term. How should this be reduced to save the federal budget bottom line?

Australia needs to stop treating aged welfare as a sacred cow, and like the NDIS take an axe to the whole rorted system. I recently visited aged welfare friends living in a "gated community" for over 55's. Like the majority of old folk on a government handout they are living in 5 star luxury at taxpayers expense.

With One Nation wanting to give people their retirement savings to spend now, this can only lead to greater future dependence on government handouts to retirees, that $110 billion will be a trillion dollars in no time!

" recently visited aged welfare friends living in a "gated community" for over 55's"

Can you give me the name of the ("fictious?") facility because I've been looking around on behalf of a uncle whose sole asset is the aged pension, and, while the facilities are all adequate, describing any of them as 5 star reveals someone who has no idea what 5 start means.

But since Paul is now, all of a sudden, concerned about the state of the feds finances I'm sure he'll come out as being in favour of cutting back on other frivolous spending like the AIS (see my earlier post) and all the millions the ALP has been throwing around to buy the votes of the Marrickville Golf Club members.

Hi Trumpster,

I MISSED YOU. Have YOU just returned from the "CONVENTION" in Texas did YOU collect $5,000 as YOU passed "TRUMPS GO".

I've been looking around on behalf of a uncle whose sole asset is the aged pension, Gee, YOU have an uncle on Aged Welfare, given your age, how old is uncle? 147!

Facility = "Manly Gardens", Google it, but they don't take Alkies and Crackheads, so YOU and uncle might not get in. In fact if YOU do, they will kick YOU and uncle out, after the coppers raid your joint, its back to that 0 star park bench for the pair of YOU!

Here's how it works;

Pensioners sells house $1.2 million.
Pensioners buy Gated Community property $800k, only 4km away, much like their house, modern 5 star.
After expenses $350K in the bank, still got pension, new car, go travel.

I'll do the maths for YOU and Uncle.
Alkie and Crackhead sell their park bench for $1.20c
Buy a cardboard box off Hobo Bob for $0.80c in the same park, millions of stars at night.
After expenses, a bottle of cheap plonk, $0.35c in the pocket, still got pension, free bus, go travel to the grog shop.

"buy the votes of the Marrickville Golf Club members" at the going rate of $5,000 per vote, that would be $1 million, unlike your man Desperate Donald, its $5k x 300 million, equals $15 trillion, add that to Desperate Donald's debt he's racked up already, $40 trillion, that's only $55 trillion! Add a couple more bombs on Iran and that's $100 trillion. Give his mate Elon some tax relief that's now $200 trillion, sell Greenland to his mate Vlad in Moscow for $300 trillion, that's $100 trillion profit, split that 4 ways with the Trumpy Gang of Thieves, that's $25 trillion each. ART OF THE DEAL.

Standard Paul when he gets caught out gilding the lily - play the fool to deflect. Or at least he thinks it deflects. But it just reveals the fool.

So not 5 star. And for the wealthier aged demographic. Lies upon lies.

But tell me this Paul, what do you propose to do to reduce the pension for the aged. In the example you gave, they are left with $350k. They'd earn approx $20k per year on that. So do you propose these folk should live on $400 a week for the couple? Paul wants us to go back to the days of pensioners eating Pal dog food. Tell us again about how compassionate you are Paul.

I can't help but note how Paul skirted the issue of the ALP throwing money around to buy off their supporters. In Paul-land that's fine and dandy but giving it to the aged poor is a no-no. Tell us again about how compassionate you are Paul.

"given your age, how old is uncle? 147!"
Its perfectly possible to have an uncle (mother's brother) only a bit older than the nephew. I explain the numbers to you but we all know that numbers confuse you.

Speaking confusion over numbers... "its $5k x 300 million, equals $15 trillion".

Actually its $1.5 trillion. You really are clueless, aren't you?
Oh and its not 300 million because there are about 240 million citizen adults in the US.

Still, its cute when the genetically innumerate think they understand numbers.

Hi Again Trumpster,

"Its perfectly possible to have an uncle (mother's brother) only a bit older than the nephew" AND like me my oldest niece is older than her uncle, my youngest brother. I know that possibility is beyond your comprehension. You're probably thinking (sorry you don't think); "How did his mother have his niece, before she had his mother!" Simple, my grandmother had my niece, before she had quintuplets! Is that clear?

I understand a tent, would be 5 star accommodation for YOU, considering YOU sleep on a park bench. I know where YOU have been, spent a week in Sydney staying at the luxurious 5 star accommodation down at the Matthew Talbot in Woolloomooloo! News Flash; Didn't YOU say YOU were a Swans supporter? Maybe YOU were in the Pullman with the boys and girls!

Now Trumpsters saying its okay for Dangerous Donald to try and buy the votes of 300 million Americans with $15 trillion of their own money! AND he's worried about Albo crapping in the Cooks River. (BTW have you ever seen the Cooks River? Crapping in it would be an improvement)

"But tell me this Paul, what do you propose to do to reduce the pension for the aged.?" Answer; CUT IT, You probably can't comprehend this, but if you cut aged welfare, you reduce it at the same time, its like magic! (simple Donald economics)