PM launches attack on unions over aged pension cuts

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has fought back over union robocalls targeting the government’s changes to the aged pension.

Robocalls with a pre-recorded message from Mr Turnbull were made to hundreds of thousands of homes to "set the record straight" about changes to aged pension.

“I want to set the record straight about recent changes to the pension,” the prime minister can be heard saying in the call.

“The vast majority of pensioners are unaffected.

“Tens of thousands of pensioners with modest assets are better off.”

READ MORE: Government ministers defend aged pension changes

Although the changes to the pension program have been through the parliament, the government is worried about the impact of the union calls, which were made earlier this week.

The anonymous automated phone calls, purported to be from a woman named Leanne, are being driven by the Australian Council of Trade Unions and warn of pension changes from January 1.

"I'm worried about my dad," Leanne said in the call.

"He's just had a letter from the government saying Malcolm Turnbull will be cutting his pension.”

Leanne then urged her listener to call talkback radio and the prime minister's office to complain about the "un-Australian" changes.

Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the calls are deliberately designed to deceive and scare people about changes that were taken to the July 2 election and ultimately supported by Labor and the Greens.

However, opposition leader Bill Shorten criticised Mr Turnbull, saying he’s “the nation’s number one cry baby”.

“I’ve got a Christmas tip for Malcolm Turnbull. If you don’t want people to complain about your pension cuts… don’t cut the pension.”