Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology) Share this | Hansard source

I table correspondence from the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Colbeck, to Senator Walsh relating to an answer given during question time on Monday 15 June 2020. I also seek leave to have the correspondence incorporated into Hansard.

Leave granted.

Senator the Hon Scott Ryan

President of the Senate

Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

17 June 2020

Dear Mr President

I write with regard to a letter I received from Senator Walsh concerning an answer I provided on the retention bonus for aged care workers during Question Time on 15 June 2020, inviting me to correct the record.

The Government's words used during the announcement of the retention bonus were "up to" and "after tax". We did not say "tax free", as Senator Walsh's letter seeks to imply.

I stand by my statement in the Senate.

I have copied this letter to Senator Cormann and Senator Walsh.

Yours sincerely

Richard Colbeck

cc:

Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, Leader of the Government in the Senate Senator Jess Walsh, Senator for Victoria