Andrew Murray (WA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer, but I would ask him if he would not mind coming back to the Senate in due course—perhaps today—with the answers to the questions as to whether tax-free super income should be declared on annual tax returns and whether wealthier retirees will be able to qualify for the low-income tax offset.

I ask as my supplementary question: can the minister confirm that the Medicare levy is not defined as income tax and therefore should not be included in tax-free super? Can the minister confirm that all retirees over 65, well-off or not, will qualify for the concessional Commonwealth seniors health card? If that concession is available to all, does the government think that better-off retirees should pay the Medicare levy on their income?