I will never vote Liberal again: pensioner

A WA pensioner has sworn never to vote Liberal again after Colin Barnett refused to stand up to the federal government on cuts to seniors' concessions.

A West Australian pensioner says she will never vote Liberal again after Premier Colin Barnett refused to fight more than $100 million in cuts to seniors concessions.

Penny told ABC radio on Wednesday she and her house-mate, a fellow pensioner, viewed the proposed cuts as terrifying.

"I'm shaking because I am so terrified of trying to pay full rates, full car registration, full electricity, full water rates," she said.

"We still unfortunately have to pay a mortgage with the insurances ... fuel, plus everything else. How are we supposed to live?

"As long as I live, which won't be long at this rate with stress, ... I will never vote Liberal again."

Mr Barnett told parliament on Tuesday the state government would not pick up the $107 million over four years that the Commonwealth cut from WA.

He said it would try to implement changes to concession programs "in a way that has minimal impact" on seniors and strive to protect those that helped people most in need.

Council of the Ageing WA chief executive Ken Marston said he was disappointed a meeting with seniors minister Tony Simpson did not clarify who would be affected by the cuts.

"A review of concessions is okay but we need to know who is going to be affected and we need to target the money to those most in need so we'll avoid those people sleeping in cars," Mr Marston said.

Opposition leader Mark McGowan said Mr Barnett acted arrogantly in refusing to stand up for WA, especially given Liberal New South Wales Premier Mike Baird had written to the prime minister asking him not to cut seniors concession funding to the state.

"He is not prepared to take up the fight," Mr McGowan said.

WA Labor MP Amber-Jade Sanderson told state parliament on Tuesday single pensioners could lose $876 a year and couples about $1300 a year as a result of the cuts, which will affect free travel on public transport and discounts on local government rates, the energy services levy, vehicle registration and water charges.


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