Pensioner rate rise talk 'premature': govt IT'S too early to comment on a report suggesting the scrapping of a $250 concession which help pensioners pay their council rates, the O'Farrell government says. NSW Labor says 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 has called the proposal an "absurd idea." Responding on Sunday to the opposition's claims, a spokesman for Local Government Minister Donald Page said it was "premature to respond to the issues raised at this point." The panel has been established to conduct an independent review. In doing so, it is raising issues for further discussion," he said. The community and local government sector are encouraged to provide the Panel with comments on the discussion paper. The opposition says pensioners are already paying an average of $2000 a year in council rates. It's calling on the government not to scrap the concession.