George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Brown, I will address your question because your question asserts that the pension has been reduced, when in fact the pension has been increased. Your question is based on a false premise. In fact, the Leader of the Opposition last week, only last week, announced that he will vote against increasing the pension by an average of $780 a year for more than 170,000 pensioners with modest assets.

Now, Senator Brown, that is what your party proposes to do, so please do not come into this chamber and ask questions based on false assertions that the pension has fallen when the pension has risen, when you yourself, Senator Brown, sit in a caucus that has recently decided to vote against a decision to increase the pension.