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The Brotherhood of St Lawrence report to the Pension Review, which included the possibility of non-exemption of the family home in the assets test, came from a Research Report from the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling. The report included eight options "to address inequities to those where need is not as great". The non-exemption was one of the eight options.We need to go back to the original basis of the Aged Pension - To look after retirees who could not look after themselves.As this country has prospered, Governments have increased funding to look after more Seniors in retirement. 13% of the population is over 65. In 25-20 years, this will increase to 25% and will not be able to be funded by a smaller number in the work force.In today's world economic environment, Government can only provide a certain amount of funds to the Aged Pension, in addition to aged care facilities (there are only 172,00 beds currently available) and the HACC program which helps fund Seniors to stay in their homes. Some 30% of Seniors do not own their own homes and about 20% rely on rental accommodation. Try paying the cost of living plus rental on the single pension and a rental subsidy - it needs far more funding.

The Brotherhood understands the cost pressures on the Federal Government and is looking after those who cannot look after themselves.The Government cannot force Seniors to sell their one million dollar house and downsize to a $600k townhouse, just to keep the pension - (anyway, they would not as $400k at the bank would exempt them).

Paul