Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McLucas and Senator Bartlett for their contributions and reflections. Through the Social Security and Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (One-off Payments and Other 2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007, the government makes a further commitment of support to older Australians, carers and many of our ageing veterans. Each eligible person of age pension age who qualified for utilities allowance or seniors concession allowance on 8 May this year will get a one-off payment of $500, as will recipients at that date of mature age allowance, partner allowance or widow allowance. A one-off payment of $1,000 for carer payment recipients and $600 for carer allowance recipients will also be paid to those who qualified. The measures in the bill aimed at many of our ageing veterans will enhance their quality of life—especially those with a disability, or their war widows or widowers—including doubling the maximum amount of funeral benefit payable from $1,000 to $2,000, increasing the intermediate disability rate paid under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act by $25 per fortnight and increasing the amount of special disability pension by $50 per fortnight. I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.