Hundreds of pensioners, some shirtless, have protested in Melbourne against the Rudd government's lack of support for seniors in the federal budget.
Some wore bright pink bras on the outside of their clothes, but others shed their outer layers altogether and flaunted their buxom bosoms proudly - all in the name of a fair go for pensioners.
The pensioners disrupted traffic for 15 minutes at Melbourne's busiest city intersection just before midday Friday.
Backed by Family First senator Steve Fielding, who also took off his shirt, the pensioners called for an extra $70 to $100 a week on their aged pension payments of $546.80 for singles and $456.80 each for couples.
The protest would be taken to Sydney and Canberra, he said.
Inspired by the topless taxi drivers who won government safety concessions after occupying the intersection of Swanston and Flinders streets two weeks ago, one man on the steps of Flinders Street station was the first to shed his shirt.
Moments later, another protester stripped down to his underpants and dashed into the middle of the intersection, followed closely by police.
The protesters swarmed after him, bringing traffic to a standstill.
John, 69, said he did it because "you've gotta stand up for your rights."
"Pensioners are the silent majority and they're crapped on all the time," he said.
The protest was organised by Glenroy resident Shirley Grant.
But despite leading the protest, Ms Grant's top stayed firmly on, because, she said apologetically, "I've got emphysema."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he understands that pensioners may feel hard done by after the federal budget failed to give them a weekly pay rise.
Mr Rudd said the budget had included a pensioners' bonus, including more money to pay power and phone bills, and had changed the way the pension was calculated to make it more generous.
"I understand that this will not be regarded as enough by many. I understand that fully," Mr Rudd told reporters in Brisbane.
"And that's also why the questions of retirement income will be considered also by the Henry commission of inquiry into tax, income support and retirement income."
The issue also tripped up Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson's budget attack after one of his frontbenchers launched her own call for a pension rise.
Dr Nelson failed to include any specific call for a rise in age pensions in his budget in reply speech on Thursday night, despite campaigning on their behalf for weeks.
On Friday, he said he thought there was a case for lifting the pension rate, but the coalition had yet to develop a policy.
But opposition spokeswoman for ageing Margaret May said she would launch a petition calling for a rise, admitting she had not told Dr Nelson.
"What he doesn't know is that I'm releasing a petition but I believe I will have the support of my leader," Ms May told Fairfax radio.
Unaware of Ms May's petition, Dr Nelson blitzed airwaves to talk up the opposition's response to the budget - including opposing the tax rise on alcopops, an increase in the luxury car tax and changes to the Medicare surcharge levy.
He rejected criticism that he had overlooked pensioners in his 30-minute budget reply speech, concentrating instead on his call to cut petrol taxes.
"I can understand some of your listeners saying that for example I could have said or announced more last night in relation to pensioners," Dr Nelson told Fairfax radio.
"We've still got two and a half years to go in this electoral cycle but I can assure you that when we go to the people for the next election you will see policies in relation to pensioners which will bring more justice to them."
Dr Nelson conceded that a five cents a litre cut to fuel excise could cost up to $2.5 billion, prompting Mr Rudd to accuse him of economic irresponsibility.
"If you are putting together a budget you've got to cost it - you can't just hope one day that it might all add up," Mr Rudd said.
"What Dr Nelson has done ... is say: 'I'm about to, on behalf of the Liberal Party, trash the Liberal Party's economic credibility by raiding the surplus to the tune of $22 billion, all in the cause of economic populism'."
Assistant Treasurer Chris Bowen said the opposition was out of control.
"We all want to do more for pensioners but this is not the way to go about it. They are behaving, frankly, like school children," Mr Bowen said.
Opposition treasury spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said the coalition had no policy to lift base pension rates, but would consider a review.
