Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I address Senator Milne’s proposition, I would like to continue my questioning of Senator Wong. I pointed out to Senator Wong that the RET was going to cost Catholic Health Australia about $2.72 million in 2020. Virtually what she told me was that you cannot have an omelette unless you crack an egg. Then she referred to something called the climate action stream. Senator Wong, have you discussed the climate action stream—I presume it includes some money somewhere—with Catholic Health and assured them that they have a way to access the climate action stream? How would they go about accessing some compensation for their $10.8 million claim under the CPRS and under RET?

I understand that Catholic Health have asked you—not you personally, but your department, which is sitting next to you—but they have not received any response. In fact, I believe that you have not even acknowledged their problem. We are not talking about Catholic Health as a standalone entity, we are talking about Catholic Health in its capacity representing about 10 per cent of non-profit organisations. If $10.8 million represents about 10 per cent of the non-profit organisations, we are now talking about $100 million that will have to be passed on to either age pensioners in aged-care homes or people in public or private hospitals. You cannot add $100 million to the costs of non-profit organisations and expect them to be able to pass it on.

You were very flippant in saying, ‘Senator Boswell, don’t worry about it because we’ve got a climate action stream.’ But be more specific. How do people—whether they be Presbyterians, Methodists, Catholics, Brethren—access this climate access stream? Where does your legislation say that there is a way to fund these costs of $10.8 million? While on this subject, you made reference to the fact that you were going to compensate low-income or middle-income people. What is the cut-off point—is it $100,000, $10,000, $55,000? What is a low-income family?