Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

While the population in Australia has grown over the last year, the total number of people who rely on welfare has decreased. The data from the soon-to-be-released Priority Investment Approach will actually reveal that there has been a significant reduction in the long-term or lifetime cost of Australia's welfare system—$5.7 trillion over the lifetime as opposed to $6.3 trillion. That's a 10.1 per cent decrease in the amount of taxpayer money that is going to be required to fund our social services system into the future, and that is a saving that will underpin the sustainability of our welfare system not just now but for future generations. We cannot borrow from future generations to pay for the welfare of today. Our strong economy allows us to keep our promise to Australians that, when they fall on hard times, we will be there to support them. It's a promise a strong economy allows. (Time expired)