Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Social Services. I refer to an email to the minister from a woman called Michelle from Foresters Beach. Michelle writes: 'I work full-time and I am a single parent of a 10-year-old and a 17-year-old. Your cuts will hit families like mine, and it's offensive to hear you selling the families package by demeaning recipients of these tax benefits as being unwilling to work.' Why does the minister think it is fair to take thousands of dollars from the pockets of hardworking families like Michelle's?

Mrs McNamara interjecting—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dobell is warned. I could not hear the question because of the interjections of the member for Dobell, the member for Bass and the member for Herbert.

Mr Whiteley interjecting—

The member for Braddon will cease interjecting. I have asked him twice.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There are some significant challenges that the government faces in both paying for sweeping reforms to child care and returning the nation to surplus. We are doing that in the way that we think is most reasonable and fair. It is a very challenging set of circumstances. The member for Jagajaga, who asked the question, has a conception of fairness which is interesting. When the member for Jagajaga was in government she removed 77,000 single mothers from parenting payments who were previously grandfathered. Those single mothers lost $150 a fortnight—$4,000 a year. That happened without any sufficient warning and without any reinvestment of the $685 million that was saved from that measure. In government the member for Jagajaga considered that that was fair.

Ms Owens interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta is warned.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was in the context of the need to return to surplus. We now know that members opposite have agreed at least to some part of the $4.7 billion worth of savings which they have turned into $500 million worth of savings. That part of the savings that they have agreed to does not relate to means testing. That part of the savings that they have agreed to is the cessation of family tax benefit B to coupled families—not on any income test basis. I will read the email from Michelle which I have not yet seen. Michelle is a person who, yes, we have said, will be subject to a scaling down of family tax benefit B payments when the youngest child turns 13. Members opposite think that is unfair fair, yet they think it is absolutely fair for a coupled family in precisely the same financial circumstances to have their FTB payments removed down—

Ms Macklin interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the member for Jagajaga that she has been warned.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it fair in government to remove 77,000 single mothers from one payment to the next?

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Gorton is warned!

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is it fair for a family in exactly the same circumstances who happen to be a coupled family than a single parent family to be moved from one style of payment to the next?

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will cease interjecting.

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All this occurs in the context of the fact that we have to find ways to pay for sweeping reforms to child care.

Kate Ellis (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Where are they!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Adelaide and the member for Lalor. The member for Adelaide is warned!

Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The savings that you have left us with pay for 14 per cent of the $3.5 billion that we need to make those much-needed reforms. You have turned $4.7 billion of savings into $500 million. You saved enough by agreement with us to pay for 14 per cent of the necessary reforms to child care. You think it is fair in government to move single parents from one payment to the next, causing them to lose $4,000. You think it is fair in opposition to have less for coupled families but not less for a single family in exactly the same financial circumstance. (Time expired)