The roll-out of a regional-based seniors travel card has been met with mixed reactions from members of the Riverina's aged community.
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Used predominately by the Nationals Party as a major election promise in 2019, the pre-loaded $250 seniors travel card will help seniors pay for taxis, fuel and regional-based public transport.
But, eligibility for the card has been criticised as being too narrow. Only those on an aged pension can receive the benefit, with those on carers and disability pensions left out of the scheme.
Uranquinty-based autism advocate and mother of a disabled adult, Deb Bewick, is hopeful the initial trial of the card will prove the need for it to be expanded.
"It should always be kept as an option on the table, and [the state government] needs to keep discussions going with representatives of disability groups," she said.
In place of the card, however, Ms Bewick said her daughter Monique's disability pension does provide her with ways to stay mobile and independent via the city's public transport network.
But that the system could always be improved, with access to public transport representing an enormous barrier for many living in smaller centres like Uranquinty.
Independent state member for Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr indicated his support for the roll-out but admitted he expected there to be some sectors of the community that would feel marginalised by the eligibility criteria.
"I think people are going to be a bit disappointed that it's not more widely available," Dr McGirr said.
For the travel card to be used to its full potential, Uranquinty-based secretary of Sunset Probus, Christine Stewart believes something must first be done to improve regional transport timetables.
"There are not too many buses around and I'd say few [elderly people] would be using the trains frequently because it's just not viable," she said.
"Nobody wants to be getting the train to Sydney after midnight, it's easier to drive, I know more people who would," she said.
"It's the people who are incapacitated and that can't drive that are really left out, they're the ones that need this card, but if it's not offered to disabled people, well I would have thought they'd be the ones who would need it most."
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The decision to extend the travel allowance to pension-aged defence force veterans on the DVA Gold card has been welcomed by the president of the Wagga RSL sub-branch David Gardiner.
But with an estimated 600 veterans in the city, Mr Gardiner said he will be waiting to see if the benefits would be extended to families.
"If the vets are eligible that that's jolly decent," Mr Gardiner said.
"But the Gold card goes to just the vet. I'd think there'd be room to expand it, especially when you consider the widows and [defence force] carers."
NSW minister for regional transport and roads, Paul Toole has said that the scheme would be made available to pension-aged recipients of the Service Pension or War Widow Pension.
"Veterans who are now eligible will be able to apply in the coming months, once we have made the necessary updates to our application system," Mr Toole said.
For those who have been left out of the scheme, Dr McGirr said he would be looking into whether there are adequate alternatives available to provide similar
"I would hope that the system is fair, that there would be other schemes to assist people that at least match the benefits of this card," he said.
"I would like to see them receive the equivalent benefits elsewhere."