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

I thank the member for Reid for his question and particularly for all the work that he does for the pensioners in his electorate. I can let him know that 18,700 pensioners in the electorate of Reid have already received their initial payment. In the neighbouring electorate of Parramatta, more than 22,000 pensioners have received a payment. Even in Bennelong another 18,000 pensioners have received this money. I hope the member for Bennelong is telling each and every one of those 18,000 pensioners that he will be clawing that money back off them if he ever gets the chance.

Starting today in Reid more than 2,000 self-funded retirees on a Commonwealth seniors health card will receive a helping hand. I reiterate to the member for Reid and to everybody on this side of the House that pensioners and self-funded retirees on a Commonwealth seniors health card can be assured that this money is ongoing. Of course, the falsehoods peddled by those opposite are exactly that. We know that the Liberals are all about helping themselves. Barry O'Farrell is there in Reid, in Parramatta, in Bennelong making sure that those pensioners that are in public housing pay increased public housing rents. His whole idea is to line his own pockets just like all of those opposite. (Time expired)

See this speech in context