Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I do not think there are two Senator Doug Camerons, no. Senator Cameron, who happens to also be the shadow minister for human services, I believe, put out this flyer, in which he said, amongst other things: 'Age pensioners lose $876.20 per annum seniors supplement.' One would hope that the shadow minister for human services would actually know the facts of who receives what. Presumably, he has now sought to clarify that.

To come to your question, the age pension will continue to go up and so will the pensioner supplement. Indeed, in March of this year, the age pension increased by $15.70 for singles and by $11.90 for each member of a pensioner couple. That was three months ago. In three months time, in September, the age pension will increase again, as it will in March and September of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018—and I could keep going, but I will not take up the time of the chamber—continuing for years into the future. In addition to that, the pensioners will keep the energy supplement, which is up to $361 per annum for singles and up to $546 per annum for couples. In addition to that, if the Labor Party would finally see some reason and allow the repeal of the carbon tax, pensioner households would be also better off as a result of that measure passing the Senate. In addition to that, the pension supplement will continue into the future. Currently that is worth up to $1,635.40 for singles and up to $2,464.80 for couples. The pension supplement will also increase in future.

So in relation to pensioners—contrary to what the Labor Party around the country is seeking to mislead people about—pensions will continue to increase in March and September of each year, not just this year but each year into the future. The pension supplement will continue to be paid and that, too, will increase. As I said, the pensioners will keep their energy supplement of $361 per annum for singles and $546 per annum for couples, and if the carbon tax is repealed there will be an average benefit per household in Australia of some $550. That will vary according to the configuration of the household, but none-the-less that would be an advantage for pensioners as well.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 11:41 to 12:02

Now, I can just wrap up in summary by saying that for pensioners, the pension will continue to increase. It will go up twice a year in March and September of each year. The pensioner supplement will continue and pensioners will continue to get paid the energy supplement. And if the Labor Party would get out of the way they would have a major saving through the repeal of the carbon tax.

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