The two major parties are pitching directly to senior voters, promising an expansion to the health concession card and cheaper medications. auspol AusVotes22 ausvotes
Prime Minister Scott Morrison plays pool with residents at Lifestyle Communities Mount Duneed retirement village on day 22 of the 2022 federal election campaign, in South Geelong, in the seat of Corangamite.Senior Australians are being courted by the major parties as each side commits to extra health care benefits.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese immediately matched the commitment on Monday, where he attended the Labour Day march in Brisbane. Asked whether he would consider allowing pensioners to keep more of what they earn without losing the pension, Mr Morrison said when such a scheme had been offered there had not been a big takeup.
"Oral health for older Australians is a real challenge and has all sorts of implications for their physical and mental health," he told ABC News. Yet Labor may have to work harder to secure the older vote, as the most recent Roy Morgan poll shows the coalition ahead of the ALP 57-43 on a two-party basis among the 65 and older bracket.
Labor is leading the Liberal-National coalition by 53 per cent to 47 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, a Newspoll published in The Australian on Monday showed.Asked if it was time for a change of government, the Newspoll of 1538 voters taken between 27 April and 30 April found 56 per cent agreed while 44 per cent said the Coalition should be returned.