Sue Boyce (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Ellison. Would the minister advise the Senate of new initiatives to be implemented from 1 July that will further assist Australian families?

Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a good question from Senator Boyce, and many Australians will be watching out for the benefits that are going to come in on 1 July. Senator Minchin outlined the tax cuts and the superannuation initiatives that the Howard government is delivering to Australians. What this question highlights is the benefits that will be provided to many Australians by way of income support from 1 July.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition might be interested in this, because it touches on a lot of needy Australians who I thought they might have more than a passing interest in. We have allocated $1.8 billion over three years to support principal carers of children who do not currently receive the parenting payment, Newstart allowance or the with-child rate of payment on Newstart. This extends to instances where we see grandparents taking up more and more the responsibility to care for their grandchildren. We have changes to maternity payments—a very important payment for those mothers who are having children. Payments will be made to claimants under the age of 18 in 13 fortnightly instalments of around $317—very important if you are having a child.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We also have Medicare, very important for all Australians, and something I thought the opposition also had some interest in, but obviously not by the look of them today. From 1 July we are rolling out a new online service for customers so that they can assess their status with Medicare. That is a very important thing for those people who are approaching the Medicare safety net—and it is something that Senator Evans should listen to carefully. Needy families in this country do look out for that and they need online access to Medicare to assess their position. That is being rolled out from 1 July—a very good initiative indeed. We also have other initiatives. From 1 July we have additional support for the Murray-Darling Basin. If you are there and you are experiencing the difficulties that many people are experiencing, this is something which will help make your life a bit better. We are rolling that out with the Farm Help program changes, which will also be implemented from 1 July 2007.

While we are talking about benefits to more Australians and more good news from the Howard government, we do note that from today Australian seniors can lodge claims for increased pension payments. It is expected that around 320,000 age and service pensioners will benefit from 20 September this year, when existing pension recipients receive an automatic increase in payments. As well as that, people who previously have been unable to receive the age pension because of the value of their assets also become eligible. This all has to do with the change in the taper rate and will benefit many Australian age and service pensioners—around 320,000 pensioners will benefit from this. This is more good news from the Howard government, again demonstrating the social dividend that we can deliver to Australians as a result of strong economic management.

Nick Minchin (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.