I would like to make some comments on a proposed national party policy to be implemented if Labor wins the next federal election.

First of all from what I have seen to date, I think that Ms Swanson is doing a good job for the constituents. However the proposed national Labor Party policy of removing the benefit of “Franking Credits” from self-funded retirees I think is disgraceful and due to this fact I will not vote for [Labor] in the next election.

I have worked all my life and paid taxes. I put extra money into my superannuation fund to enable me to eventually retire without any government assistance or benefits. I am currently 74 years old and don’t even have a Health Card even though I can apply for one. So I am virtually costing the government nothing.

So, when we calculated the finances necessary for retirement, there were a set of rules and regulations to abide by. I have stuck by all these rules to date and now if Labor gains power, they are going to change, taking away a good percentage of my current income. This is like changing the rules mid-game.

As politicians with their grand superannuation scheme and benefits, they have no realisation of what the normal average person requires to save to survive today. Most of us are not multi-millionaires, and the only money we have is what we have saved. I have worked for wages in the manufacturing field in engineering all my life, married, built my own house, and raised a family. I don’t consider myself to be rich, but what I do have, I have worked long hours and hard to get.

Governments want the population to put money into superannuation to enable them to be self-reliant as the “Centrelink “ system cannot support all the people that will eventually stop working and attempt retirement.

Related reading: Letters to the Editor, February 21

This [proposed] policy goes against this reality. Again, my guess is as a result the current self-funded retirees should now spend their survival investment money and take their overseas trips, buy their new 4WD vehicle and caravan, maybe a boat, and fall back to the Centrelink part or full pensions. Enjoy life and spend the money originally saved to survive and be self-reliant. This undoubtedly will cause the Centrelink system to fall over earlier than anticipated.

At long last there are signs that Port Stephens is returning to the status of a swinging seat in the forthcoming state elections. 

In recent months many community projects in Port Stephens have received government funding.

In addition there are major funding promised by the Premier [Gladys Berejiklian] herself, and supported by the local candidate, who is also a councillor on record [who] acknowledged community concerns and voted against the SRV.

No doubt the other political parties will do their best to offer Port Stephens a fair share of state funding if elected to government. Swingers or not, we all hope Port Stephens will benefit.

Related reading: Letters to the Editor, February 14

Letters on election issues must bear the name and full address of the writer.

Responsibility for election comment in this issue is accepted by the Port Stephens Examiner editor Anna Wolf. Writers should disclose any alliance with political or community organisations and include their phone number for verification.

Election candidates should declare themselves as such when submitting letters.

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