Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

We are concerned about cost of living on this side of the chamber. If those on the other side of the chamber were concerned about the cost of living, they would join with us and vote for the repeal of the carbon tax, because we know that the average Australian household will be $550 a year better off with the abolition of the carbon tax. But not only are we are seeking to abolish—with the help, I hope, of those others opposite, because I am an optimist—the carbon tax, but we are keeping the compensation that was put in place in order to offset the effects of the carbon tax. So: carbon tax—gone. But compensation—there. That is a serious cost-of-living measure; that is a serious effort by this government to do something practical and concrete for the cost of living of age pensioners and all Australians. I say I am an optimist; I will keep my fingers crossed that those opposite— (Time expired)