Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Will the minister please outline to the House the importance of the government's plans to support pensioners on the age pension and what would be the impact of not providing this support?

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(Jagajaga—Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) (15:05): I thank the member for Page for her question as she understands very well this government's commitment to older Australians and the importance of the age pension. It is the case that this government has delivered historic reforms to the age pension, boosting both the amount of the pension and, just as importantly, making sure that the pension keeps up with pensioners' costs of living.

From tomorrow, pensioners will receive their fourth increase to the pension since we introduced the historic reforms just two years ago. We delivered pension increases of $148 a fortnight for single pensioners and $146 a fortnight for couples combined over the last two years. These are very significant improvements to the pension that this side of the parliament delivered. We know that the other side of the parliament refused to deliver an increase to the pension. We are of course also delivering real and permanent increases to the pension through our plan to put a price on carbon pollution. This too will mean improvements to the pension. Under our plan, it will be the big polluters who pay for their pollution, not pensioners. Pensioners will not be paying; it will be the big polluters. So we will see 3.4 million pensioners receiving an improvement to their pensions—yet again, from this side of the parliament—that more than covers their average expected price rises. Once again, pensioners will receive assistance worth $338 for singles and $255 a year for each member of a couple. These are the changes that pensioners can look forward to—increases to their pension that they know will come from this side of the parliament. It is not just these annual changes; they can also be assured that the clean energy supplement will keep up with the cost of living. So it is this side of the parliament that is making sure that pensioners are looked after.

What can pensioners expect from those opposite? I was asked what the impact would be of not providing the support, and we have heard from those opposite that—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will stick to what is the impact.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

it is their intent to claw back the assistance that this government will provide to those opposite. What that will mean in real terms, to real pensioners—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will return to the question.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

is $338 less.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume her seat.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order. I had assumed the minister had concluded her answer, but, given that she has not, I would ask you to admonish her for departing from your ruling last Wednesday that these kinds of answers are not regarded as acceptable under the standing orders.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Sturt will resume his seat. The minister will relate her remarks directly, relevantly, to the question, without undue use of debate. The minister has the call, and she will be heard in silence.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pensioners do have the right to know what will be the implications for them, the impact on them and their budgets, of this Leader of the Opposition's—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will bring her remarks to a close.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

decision to take $338 a year out of their persons and wallets.