Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Disability Reform) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. As of last night, more than 627,000 payments had been made to pensioners, worth more than $135 million. That means that, for a maximum rate single pensioner, they are going to be $134 a year better off. For couples, they will be $201 a year better off as a result of the payments that this government is delivering.

For those pensioners up in Central Queensland, there are 18,600 pensioners around Rockhampton who are going to receive payments in this fortnight. We have seen in the Morning Bulletin a pensioner up there saying that it is going to be good for him. He is going to be able to afford some extras.

Mr Christensen interjecting—

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