Baby boomers in SA may not be swept under the rug so easily

Seniors in South Australia have the potential to decide the state election with the over 50s comprising more than 44 per cent of the voting population.

Reports today suggest the election set for 20 March is on a knife edge.

SA voters aged 50 and over made up 44.2 per cent of the total voting population which is the second highest out of all states and territories in Australia, says National Seniors Australia spokesperson Paul Versteege.

“There’s no doubt that many votes are still up for grabs and seniors are going to be waiting and seeing what the Government and Opposition announce in the next few weeks.

National Seniors has already achieved two good wins for older South Australians with a significant increase in the land tax threshold and increase in the utility rebates announced by Premier Mike Rann.

The organisation is calling on the Opposition to match the Government’s announcement on water and electricity rebates for older Australians. “The increase in utility rebates is good news for all seniors who are doing it tough.

It is disappointing that the Opposition hasn’t responded to our request to match the rebates,’’ Versteege said.

 “There is still time for them to show they are not ignoring the concerns of so many voters by making a commitment to do so.”

A copy of the 2010 National Seniors South Australian Election Priorities Document is now available.

With around 280,000 members, National Seniors is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.