2025-04-26
The Greens have today announced a plan to lower the retirement age and lift the age pension above the poverty line, allowing Australians to retire earlier on a liveable income.
Greens leader Adam Bandt announced the plan in the party’s target seat of Richmond in northern NSW, along with Social Services spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne and Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan.
By lowering the pension age from 67 to 65, recipients who benefit would on average receive $18,000 more a year. This includes those moving from JobSeeker to the Age Pension.
There are currently 54,295 JobSeeker recipients who are aged over 65. Since 2017 the proportion of people older than 65 receiving JobSeeker, DSP or the Carer Payment has doubled.
The commitment will largely benefit older women who are more likely than men to face the prospect of poverty in old age. The majority of JobSeeker recipients aged over 65 are women.
The pension rate was raised from 65 to 67 by the Rudd Labor government in 2009, with the Greens opposing the decision at the time.
Comments attributable to Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
“In a wealthy country like ours, no one should retire into poverty. The Greens will fight for the right to retire earlier at 65, with an income that will actually pay the bills and support older Australians to enjoy the retirement they deserve.
“There is a poverty crisis among older Australians and it's worse for older women, who are one of the fastest growing groups facing homelessness.
"One in three big corporations pay no tax, while thousands of older Australians are struggling to get by. By making billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax, older Australians can retire earlier with a liveable income.
"In a minority Parliament, the Greens will keep Dutton out and restore respect and dignity in ageing by getting Labor to return the pension age to 65, and raise the pension rate above the poverty line.”
Comments attributable to Greens spokesperson on Social Services and Government Services, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:
“Thousands of older people are in physically demanding, minimum wage jobs or accessing the much lower JobSeeker rate because successive Labor and Liberal governments have failed to give them the support they need.
“Older people deserve better from their government. The Greens will return the pension age to 65 and lift the pension above the poverty line, providing a well-deserved earlier retirement with liveable income support.”
Comments attributable to Greens candidate for Richmond, Mandy Nolan:
“This region has among the highest house prices and least affordable rents in the country. We know too that this is the most climate-impacted, with house insurance becoming unaffordable for tens of thousands of Richmond households. Yet the pension has remained below the poverty line. In a wealthy country, housing stress and homelessness should not be an issue for our elders.
“I only need a 1.8% swing to win this seat from the same MP who has held it for 20 years. If I’m elected, I’ll work with Labor and the Independents to lower the pension age, and raise the pension rate above the poverty line.”