More than 500,000 older Australians would get earlier access to a bolstered age pension under a $5.6 billion Greens plan.
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On the eve of the federal election, the Greens have vowed to pressure an Albanese Labor government to return the retirement age to 65 if they hold the balance of power in the next Federal Parliament.
The move would require Labor to reverse a Rudd government policy which has gradually raised the pension age to 67.
The change would grant more than 520,000 people earlier access to the age pension, which the Greens are pushing to raise to $88-per-day as part of a wider shakeup of the social security system.
"The Liberals and Labor have abandoned older voters and working families across the country," Greens welfare spokeswoman Janet Rice said.
"There are hundreds of thousands of older Australians living in poverty, counting the days until their next birthday so they can finally reach pension age.
"Enabling earlier access to the age pension will reduce poverty in Australia, and support thousands of older Australians who deserve better from our government."
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has refused to countenance a deal with the Greens, but Adam Bandt's team is confident Labor will come to the table if it needs the numbers to form government.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
Dan covers federal politics from Parliament House, with a special focus on climate policy and the NDIS. He has previously reported on ACT politics and urban affairs since joining the Canberra Times in 2018.
