Fed: Howard says he regrets pensioner misunderstanding

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2000
Fed: Howard says he regrets pensioner misunderstanding

CANBERRA, Aug 23 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today said he regretted that many
pensioners had misunderstood the extent of the government's pledge of $1,000 GST compensation.

Mr Howard said the government never intended to make the full $1,000 available to everyone
although some may have thought that.

He said he had been personally bailed up by two pensioners in an Adelaide pub, one
of whom received the full $1,000 and the other nothing.

"Naturally I regret any misunderstanding that has occurred," he told Perth radio.

"There was no intention on my part to deceive people.

"Some people may have had the expectation. I think other people may have heard reference
to $1,000 and assumed it was available irrespective of their level of savings."

Mr Howard said the government was not about to make the full $1,000 available now.

"That doesn't mean to say there isn't scope in another context, according to circumstances,
to have other initiatives for retired people," he said.

"But it was never the intention and the representation to make it available to everybody
and I can't give an on-the-run commitment that we can do that."

Many pensioners accused the government of welshing on its pledge to pay them each $1,000
compensation for the GST after they found out the measure was income tested with many
receiving less than the anticipated windfall.

AAP mb/daw/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: TAX HOWARD

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