AUSTRALIA: Elderly have earned a rise

. SYDNEY, NSW / The Daily Telegraph / Opinion / May 6, 2009 CITIZENS of all ages will struggle in the coming year. Of this there is little doubt. Yet those who are young and able will get by, possibly by seeking extra work (if it can be found). Those experienced in the workplace also have experience at locating jobs, should new employment be required. But what of elderly pensioners, who enter these historically tough times under restrictions of age and income? The Federal Government's flagged pension increases in the 2009 Budget are a positive move. Increases will safeguard those in the community who are most at threat from economic turbulence and least able to respond. It is also an expensive move, but certain dues are owed our elderly. The good financial times enjoyed by all Australians over the past decade or so were in part delivered by the heavy lifting of earlier generations, who built a powerful, resilient economy. They took a few hits along the way. In building our economy, many of today's retirees had to endure restructuring of industry, removal of tariffs, privatisation and other disruptive but deeply needed measures. Having been through all of that, many of our aged and infirm must feel particularly unlucky, seeing as they are entering their twilight years around the chaos of economic collapse. So any pension increase, combined with whatever other changes are planned to improve conditions for older Australians, are welcome. They've earned a break. Copyright 2009 News Limited.