FEW HOLES IN BUDGET FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

THE federal budget has delivered a mixed bag for Tony Hine of West Hobart — no increase to pensions, but increased funding for health and local roads.

Mr Hine, 80, was keen to see help for pensioners with the cost of living, more money for the state’s health budget and better funding for councils in the federal budget.

“I’m on the TPI pension so I’m not suffering like most other pensioners but a lot of them are battling,” Mr Hine said.

“Prices for things are going up, electricity is going up, and so I’d like to see pensions get more of a helping hand.”

There were no lump sums or out-of-cycle pension increases in Tuesday night’s budget.

Mr Hine also wanted the state’s health crisis addressed.

“We need more funding to stop all this overuse of public hospitals.

“I know it’s a state thing but a bit more federal money will certainly help.

“If the federal government is going to give handouts to all these foreign countries then I think they can give us a bit more for our hospitals.”

Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Wednesday said that the state would put some of the $1.4bn GST windfall from the federal budget into health, as well as bring down the state budget deficit.

And Mr Hine said he’d also like more funding given to state councils.

“Roads around North Hobart and West Hobart are falling to bits as they don’t have the money to fix them,” he said.

“If you drive on these roads every day you see these potholes and other issues and so I’d like to see more funding given to local councils to address these sort of issues.”

The federal government on Tuesday night maintained funding to local government and provided a further $1bn under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

Perhaps Mr Hine’s leastfavourite potholes will be fixed this time around.