Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pocock for that very important question. The issue is one that the current government takes very seriously, and it appreciates the sentiment and the sincerity in which you have raised this issue. I'll make a couple of observations about the process.

Of course, there will be an indexation process in the October budget. We know from statements already made by the Prime Minister that he is obviously concerned about the issue, concerned about the people who find themselves in those situations. He has undertaken to look closely at the issue and to see what can be done in what is a very difficult budgetary circumstance. We were left with $1 trillion worth of debt, as has been said already, by the previous government—the highest-taxing and highest-spending government in history. That's left us with an extremely difficult set of financial circumstances to deal with. The Prime Minister understands the issues that people in these circumstances find themselves, and he has undertaken that he will look at the issue. (Time expired.)