Carter takes on Grey Power

Senior Citizens Minister John Carter has been labelled a bully after warning Grey Power it was risking its political neutrality by supporting a Labour-Greens inquiry into aged care.

But the lobby group for the elderly says there is no risk of it being biased or demeaning itself - it will support any probe into home help being lost to senior citizens.

"There's nothing sinister about it. Nothing political whatsoever," said president Les Howard. "The more people look into [aged care], the better as far as I'm concerned."

Mr Howard said his group was concerned that older people were losing home help after being assessed over the phone.

In a speech to Grey Power's annual meeting in Christchurch yesterday, Mr Carter said it was critical the group be seen as "non-aligned with any political party".

"In light of that, I was surprised to see Grey Power announcing last week that it would be working alongside Labour and the Greens to hold a nationwide investigation into the state of aged care."

Labour leader Phil Goff said Mr Carter had no right to bully Grey Power, which was rightfully concerned at cuts to aged care.

"But his hectoring comes as no surprise. He is trying to silence Grey Power because he doesn't want the investigation to take place, as it will highlight the effects the cuts are having on our elderly community."

Mr Carter said Grey Power would have been far better to investigate without associating themselves with other political parties, "particularly those that are in opposition to the Government".