The NSW Labor Government has axed the Regional Seniors Travel Card in favour of cheaper petrol for seniors, but there is a major caveat for residents of the Kiama LGA.

The Regional Seniors Travel Card, which gave seniors $250 each year to spend on public transport stopped accepting applications in July 2023 following reports that funds could be spent on products and services other than transport.

In its wake, United Petroleum has introduced a new scheme offering a 4-cent-per-litre discount from participating service stations. These cards can be used once per day on a maximum of 150 litres.

This would be welcome news for Kiama’s senior residents if we actually had any United Petroleum stations in the LGA. The closest United Petroleum stations are located in Nowra and Windang.

NSW Minister for Seniors Jodie Harrison said the new scheme was designed to give seniors the best benefits and discounts possible.

“This brand new discount has been added to the wealth of Seniors Card savings to help keep more money in seniors’ pockets and ease price pressure at the pump,” Minister Harrison said.

Minister Harrison also hit back at reports that the United Petroleum card is intended as a replacement for the Regional Sales Travel Card, saying the United partnership isn’t a NSW Government funded initiative.

“Allegations that the Regional Seniors Travel Card has been replaced by a direct deal with a private operator are intentionally misleading,” says Minister Harrison.

“Reasonable people would agree raising awareness and celebrating the savings available under the NSW Seniors Card falls within my remit as Minister for Seniors, without interpreting it as a hidden budget announcement.”

Seniors (ages 65 and above) will need to sign up from United Petroleum's website with a NSW Seniors Card to start receiving discounts on petrol. 

The Regional Seniors Travel Card was introduced by the then-Coalition Government. It could be used for petrol at any service station, as well as taxis or public transport. While applications for new cards have ended, the existing 320,000 cards remain valid until their expiry date.

Independent Member for Kiama Gareth Ward, who has been a proponent of the Regional Seniors Travel Card, said the new scheme “hugely disadvantages” seniors in the Kiama LGA who don’t live anywhere near a United Petroleum station.

“This new scheme benefits seniors in Labor electorates where there are a large number of United stations but this decision disadvantages regional seniors that have to travel longer distances and have fewer public transport options,” Mr Ward said.

With cost of living pressure continuing to rise, and only one non-United Petroleum station open in Kiama, seniors will really be under the pump!

This article was updated at 12:47PM to include additional comments from Minister Jodie Harrison.