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

I am sure all colleagues will recall the background to the abolition of the dementia and severe behaviours supplement, which was the fact that in its first and only year of operation, the last financial year, rather than costing $11.7 million, as was budgeted for and as was designed by the previous government, in the end it cost $110 million. Rather than 2,000 people being eligible, as those opposite thought would be the case, there ended up being 29,000 people eligible. Clearly, the government had to act—and act I did to conclude that supplement. But, before acting, I looked at the supplement long and hard to see if it were possible to salvage the design. I look to see whether it were possible to develop an interim measure. I looked to see if it were possible to salvage that supplement, and I reached the conclusion that it was not.

I am glad that Senator Polley refers to information that has come to light through a freedom of information request by a publication on ageing which states—