Member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, is urging the region’s residents to sign a petition calling on the NSW Government to retain the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card.
The previous Government rolled out the travel card in 2019, and more than a million cards have been distributed since.
In July, the NSW Government brought new applications for the travel card to a halt, while also announcing a 4c per litre reduction in fuel for seniors at United service stations.
“Labor’s announcement on Saturday is a weak attempt to compensate eligible seniors, and signals that Labor plans on cutting the Regional Seniors Travel Card in September’s Budget,” said Mr Singh, who is the NSW Shadow Minister for Tourism, Emergency Services and the North Coast.
“This scheme makes it impossible for seniors living in our region to save as much as they do with our card.
“Under Labor’s plan, you’d need to be filling your car twice a week to get the same savings as the Regional Seniors Travel Card. Most seniors don’t drive anywhere near that much, and won’t save anywhere near as much as they did under the Coalition’s Card.
“For Labor to pass this off as a genuine cost-of-living measure for regional seniors is laughable. They should keep the Regional Seniors Travel Card because it was a good program that made a meaningful difference to the lives of seniors in our regional communities.”
Labor continues to prove they’re only interested in Sydney, said Mr Singh.
To sign the petition, visit www.savethetravelcard.com.au and follow the online prompts.
The petition is also available for signing at Mr Singh’s electorate office, Suite 1/9 Park Avenue Coffs Harbour.
