Pensioner rate rise absurd: NSW opposition THE opposition has called on the NSW government to rule out scrapping a $250 concession that helps pensioners pay their council rates. In a statement, NSW Labor said a proposal to scrap the payment was contained in a Local Government Review Panel report released last week and commissioned by the state government. Opposition local government spokeswoman Sophie Cotsis called the proposal an "absurd idea." "Abolishing the $250 concession is an absurd idea when you consider how tough our pensioners are doing it with the rising cost of food, water, electricity and medication," Ms Cotsis said on Sunday. Coming just days after the O'Farrell government jacked up electricity and gas bills yet again - the premier needs to rule this proposal out of hand. She said pensioners were already paying an average of $2000 a year in council rates. The government is being sought for comment.