The Wire

A leading Catholic church agency has backed the Greens and the Liberals in their push for a pay rise for pensioners. Last night a bill was passed by the senate, that recommends a 30 dollar per week rise for the single aged pension. But the Rudd government is resisting the move, saying it wants to wait until the outcome of its independent review of the issue, due in February. But critics say action is needed now, because single pensioners simply can’t live on $273 a week. Catholic Social Services Australia has now joined the debate calling for both a pay rise and a permanent commission to regularly upgrade pensions.