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

My question, again, is to the Minister for Social Services. Can the minister confirm that this conservative government is cutting the energy supplement for 400,000 pensioners; is increasing the pension age to 70; did a deal with the Greens political party which meant 92,000 pensioners lost their pension and left a total of 370,000 pensioners worse off; and has included cuts to pensioners in every single budget it's handed down—every single one?

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I can confirm to the minister is that this government—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Members on my left!

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What I can confirm to the shadow minister is that this government has, from the word go, started repairing the mess that this Labor Party left for us. We've had to make some tough decisions. You were so, so desperate when you were last in government that you put 80,000 single mothers onto Newstart. What we want to do is make sure we don't have to do that again. So what are we doing?

When it comes to welfare, we're making sure we're creating 1,100 jobs a day. That means that people will go off welfare and into work. We all know that that is the best thing that we can do for people.

Dr Chalmers interjecting—

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

The member for Rankin will leave under 94(a).

The member for Rankin then left the chamber.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When it comes to pensioners, we're making sure that we do not introduce tax policies which will make them worse off. We are not going to increase taxes on part pensioners. We're not going to do it on self-funded retirees. What this government is about is making sure that we have a sustainable budget which means that we will be able to look after those who need it most. We will also make sure that we will encourage people off welfare and into work. And that is the best thing we can do.

When it comes to pensioners we will not be introducing the type of policies that you opposite have just increased which will make pensioners and part pensioners worse off. All you want to do is tax, tax, tax and tax. Well, we on this side don't want to tax, tax, tax and tax. We want to make sure that we're getting people working, that we're encouraging people into work and that we're encouraging companies to employ more people. That way, we can make sure that we won't be doing to pensioners and part pensioners what you opposite would do to them if you get on this side of the chamber.