Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise because I am concerned about the effect on my electorate of tonight's budget. I have been contacted by pensioners who are worried sick about what is going to happen to them after tonight's budget. I have been contacted by people who are worried about how changes to the indexation arrangements will affect their pension.

Mr Nikolic interjecting—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Bruce Scott (Maranoa, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Bass! Order! The member for Jagajaga! The member will be heard in silence.

Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that there is no budget emergency. I am sick to death of a confected budget emergency being used to justify a tax on pensioners and a tax on those on the disability support pension. I have had people who rely on that disability support pension sitting at home, worried about what is going to happen to them after tonight's budget. This government ought to be embarrassed about the commitment that was made prior to the federal election that there would be no changes to pensions. Why do pensioners in my electorate have to be worried about changes to indexation and what might happen to the income? Why do those on the disability support pension have to be concerned about whether they are going to be able to live after this budget? Why have we seen $68 billion added to the deficit by Mr Hockey, the Treasurer, since the pre-election financial outlook? The government ought to be embarrassed.