Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I ask a further supplementary question, Mr President. I ask the minister to confirm that the government will not increase Newstart for the same reason that it is cutting the single parents payment, and that is to meet its budget surplus. I would like the minister to explain to the Senate why achieving a surplus is a higher priority than helping people on the poverty line and how this cut and failure to increase Newstart provide a brighter future for the people of Australia.