City of Casey councillor Michael Farley celebrates the $100 rates rebate with Rod Charles and Patrick Flynn. 19990
By Kelly Yates
STRUGGLING war veterans are set to benefit from a $100 rate rebate.
Casey Council is to become the first authority in Victoria to offer the rebate to ex-servicemen and war widows.
Councillor Michael Farley said $90,000 was put aside in the 2008-09 budget for the scheme.
“We are targeting people who are doing it tough and need a little extra help,” he said.
Ex-servicemen who hold both a Department of Veterans’ Affairs card and a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated pension card are eligible.
Cr Farley is urging residents to inquire through council to see whether they are entitled to the rebate.
“We want to make people aware that if eligible, they are entitled to this help,” he said.
“These people have done their bit for our country and they should all get the extra $100 back,” he said.
The Springfield Ward councillor said he wanted to extend the rebate scheme further next year.
“I believe that everyone who’s on a pension should be entitled to a rebate,” Cr Farley said.
“I’ll pledge that I’ll fight for it. They fought for freedom, democracy and the life we all live now, so we should give something back to them.”
