Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Marielle Smith, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and many other social security payments will not be indexed by the Government in September,

  (ii) the last time pensions were not indexed was almost a quarter of a century ago,

  (iii) this will mean that pensions will be frozen for at least a year,

  (iv) the cost of fresh fruit and vegetables has increased by over 5% in the past six months and the out-of-pocket cost of seeing a GP has increased $11 under this Government, and

  (v) record low interest rates are hurting pensioners with modest savings; and

(b) calls on the Government to treat pensioners fairly, by ending the Prime Minister's pension freeze.