Regional seniors travel card petition tabled in State parliament

24th Oct 2023

Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has tabled a 10,000-plus signature petition in State Parliament, calling for the government reverse its recent decision and reinstate the popular $250 NSW Regional Seniors Travel Card.
The petition will now trigger a debate on the floor of the Legislative Assembly next month when Parliament resumes.
Mr Marshall thanked the community for putting pen to paper to call on the government, which effectively axed the program in its first Budget last month, to continue the vital card.
“In last month’s State Budget the government took the axe to the seniors travel card – a heartless decision which will negatively impact more than 12,000 seniors in the Northern Tablelands and more than $1 million across country NSW,” Mr Marshall said.
“We cannot afford to sit idle and allow this card to be taken so coldly off some of our community’s most vulnerable people, especially in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.
“We must take the fight up to the government and with the tabling of this petition, we’ll get the chance to do this on the floor of parliament next month.”
Mr Marshall said since 2020, the Regional Seniors Travel Card had helped more than one million eligible seniors living in rural and regional NSW with cost-of-living expenses by providing $250 to spend on petrol, taxis or public transport to help get them to appointments, do the weekly grocery shop or take that special trip to visit family and friends.
“Cardholders have written to me about how the card has become an essential part of their budgets, allowing them to see grandchildren and family and paying for necessary travel to appointments when not many options for public transport are available,” Mr Marshall said.
“The positive response to the petition, not just in our region but right across our state has been overwhelming.
“People of all ages have taken the time to show their support for our seniors and this program.
“This petition, backed with the signatures of more than 10,000 locals, send a powerful message to the government and I hope they listen and act next month.”

Going strong for 100 years

Phone	(02) 6779 2347
Email	Contact Us
Social

Regional seniors travel card petition tabled in State parliament

Menu

News

Contact