Greens likely to back pension changes

Planned changes to the aged pension could have the backing of the Australian Greens, ensuring their passage through parliament.

The minor party has welcomed the government's decision to make changes to the assets test rather than pursue a change to the way the pension is indexed.

The Greens would be open to looking at the measures with "fresh eyes" so long as they were reviewed by a Senate committee and the government agreed to a broader inquiry into retirement income, spokeswoman Rachel Siewert told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.