Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Let me thank the honourable member for his question and for all his hard work looking after vulnerable Australians in his electorate. The government is pretty serious about protecting the integrity of our $154 billion welfare system—it is a third of all government outlays—and will continue to take a very strong stance against welfare fraud. We are pretty serious about protecting the integrity of the welfare system. Most Australians are doing the right thing. Most Australians only claim and receive the benefits they are entitled to, and this government wants to ensure that those in support are able to continue to get that support. But the unfortunate reality is that some welfare recipients believe it is okay to cheat the system.

Ms Butler interjecting—

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