RAC welcomes new fuel card

30 April 2009

The RAC has welcomed today’s introduction of the Country Age Pension Fuel Card, which will help improve the mobility of about 35,000 Western Australians.

RAC Head of Member Advocacy Matt Brown said the RAC was committed to ensuring the mobility of all members and the new card was necessary to ensure this in regional areas.

“Seventeen per cent of our members are over the age of 65 and mobility is a key issue for them,” Mr Brown said.

“Almost two thirds of senior drivers rated fuel prices and the costs of running a car as one of their key concerns in a recent RAC survey.

“Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport, so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions.

”Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities.

“On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher.

“For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”

The RAC encourages all eligible pensioners in regional areas to apply for their fuel card at their local Australia Post outlet so they can start to benefit from the scheme.

Mr Brown said the government would need to monitor the system closely to ensure that it is not exploited.

“We believe the government has put some sensible controls around the system to ensure taxpayer funds are spent effectively.

“But if the scheme does become open to exploitation, we would expect the government to move quickly to tighten those controls.”

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