Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

No, actions and results are different; we are talking about a process, listening and empathising—great stuff, but it is not washing and it will not wash with the pensioners and others on fixed incomes in Australia. They are saying, ‘We hurt right now. You knew in March this year that we hurt and you have done nothing about it and are continuing to do nothing about it.’ The crocodile tears from Senator Evans do not help—the righteous indignation, as though something is actually happening because you get sad and upset and let the world know that, ‘Gee, it’s tough out there.’ What does that do for the pensioners? Nothing has changed.

In the past two weeks I have received over 700 letters from pensioners in Queensland explaining the difficulties that they face right now. There is no reason whatsoever why something cannot be done to help couple pensioners and, in particular, single pensioners as the rents go up, as fuel prices go up, as grocery prices go up, whether you are watching them or not. It is particularly the single pensioners who hurt more, because you cannot rent half a house, no matter how high rents go; you cannot make that economy in your lifestyle.