OWN Australia Inc will be in Melbourne 15th - 18th January. If you would like to meet with us and be involved in the re-establishment of OWN Vic please contact the OWN Australia National President - Aloma Fennell on 0420 785 335

To Senator Leyonhjelm

The Older Women's Network Australia Inc strongly objects to the insulting comments made by you as reported by the Australian newspaper and the ABC:

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Senator Leyonhjelm said Australians should "reinforce the notion" that "when you retire you will only receive the pension if you're poor and it's nothing to be proud of".

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​Do these comments apply to Politicians and their pensions?

Clearly you have no idea of the billions of dollars in unpaid contributions made to the Australian society​  predominately older women. Clearly you have n idea that older women were, during their working lives, not entitled to superannuation, who had to leave their jobs in the public sector when they married because 'they were taking a man's job' and should now feel ashamed because of this? 

Well shame on you Senator, shame on you

Aloma Fennell 

National President

(OWN) Australia Inc.

T: 02 4396 5052

M. 0420 785 335

Email: ownaust@gmail,com

www.ownaustralia.org.au

Advocating for the Rights,Dignity and wellbeing of the Older Women of Australia

What a way to start the new year! Surely this man must be vilified be all. 

OWN Australia strongly objects to these comments by Senator David Leyonhjelm.

Senator David Leyonhjelm calls to restrict pension, says being poor 'nothing to be proud of'

By political reporter Uma Patel

Crossbench senator David Leyonhjelm says people who receive pension payments should not be proud because it shows they are poor.

The Government has restricted access to the aged pension for 300,000 older Australians as part of a tightening of the assets test which began yesterday.

But Liberal Democratic senator Leyonhjelm said the restrictions did not go far enough.

"Taking the pension shouldn't be something you aspire to, it should be something you try to avoid because it signifies you're in a low income group — in other words you're poor, or close to poor," he told the ABC.

The crossbench senator wants the payment to be viewed as welfare — not an entitlement for taxpayers once they reach a certain age.

"We really have to get over this idea that you don't have to save for your own retirement and your own old age," he said.

He continued his calls for the family home to form part of the assets test for pensions.

The Government has been defending its changes to the pension during the summer holidays, as Labor ramped up their calls to have it reversed.

Senator Leyonhjelm said Australians should "reinforce the notion" that "when you retire you will only receive the pension if you're poor and it's nothing to be proud of".

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Season's Greetings

	2:34 PM (49 minutes ago)
to

Professor Gillian Triggs
President

Australian Human Rights Commission
Level 3, 175 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 2001

Human rights: everyone, everywhere, everyday

OWN Australia is very saddened to hear the news of the the passing of Anne Deveson 86,  author, journalist and remarkable women one who gave us so much. We grieve with her loved ones. Aloma Fennell, National President.