Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank the member for Calwell for her question. Of course, like the member for Calwell, our government understands that many Australians are doing it tough right now. That's why we have set out through this budget a path to address some of the pressures that families are feeling right now. I would like to really congratulate the Treasurer for all the work he did in delivering what is a very responsible and targeted but important cost-of-living relief plan. Our $14.6 billion cost-of-living plan includes help with power bills, record investment in Medicare bulk billing and cheaper medicines, and, in addition, we are strengthening the safety net that so many Australians rely on.

The safety net is there for when Australians need it. Through this budget we are strengthening that by increasing the eligible working age and student payment rates. We're also strengthening the Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments and expanding the eligibility for parenting payment single. Our changes will see the rates of JobSeeker, youth allowance and other eligible working-age payments rise by $40 a fortnight. This provides additional support to 1.1 million people.

We are expanding the eligibility for existing higher rates of JobSeeker to single recipients aged 55 and over who have been on income support for nine months or more. The higher rate is an existing feature of our social security system that currently applies to those aged over 60. But we know older Australians face a number of additional barriers when looking for work, including age discrimination and poor health. Our changes will support 52,000 Australians aged 55 to 59, who will receive an additional $92.10 a fortnight.

Similarly, we know that single parents can find it tough to balance caring responsibilities with full-time work, and so we are expanding the eligibility for parenting payment, because we know the balancing act doesn't end when a child turns eight. And, as the Prime Minister outlined, we are increasing the support for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the largest increase to the CRA in more than 30 years.

Combined, these changes will provide additional support to around two million people. The Albanese government believes in a strong social safety net. We believe in supporting those doing it tough. Through our budget and our changes, we will be supporting more Australians with the cost of living.

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