Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister of Social Services, Senator Farrell. Why is the government's temporary announcement to support pensioners to keep most of what they earn time-limited to the end of this financial year?

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

I thank the senator for her question. I think it's fair to say that this government is doing so much more for pensioners, even in its first couple of months, than you've done in your previous 10 years. We're going to continue down this track to try to improve the lives of Australian pensioners that you—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Reynolds.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order, President, on direct relevance. My question was very clear and specific. It was: why is it time-limited to the end of this financial year?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Reynolds. The minister has started to talk about pensioners. Like you, I'm listening carefully. Minister Farrell, please continue.

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

Thank you, President. I thank the senator for her intervention. As I made very clear in the few seconds I had to answer this question before I was rudely interrupted by Senator Reynolds, we are going to do more in the time that we have in the government than your government did in the previous 10 years. These are issues that are, of course, constantly under review by the Minister for Social Services.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Birmingham?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I have a point of order on relevance. It's agonising that Mr Farrell can't get beyond the broad concept of pensioners and hasn't even turned to the actual policy proposal of the government— which is a copy of part of an opposition policy proposal—for an extension to pensioner work rights, when the precise question from Senator Reynolds was about those pensioner work rights and why the government has adopted it only to the end of the financial year.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Birmingham. In the time remaining I will direct the minister to the specifics of the question.

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

Thank you, President. As the Prime Minister has said time and time again, and as— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, your first supplementary question?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do have a supplementary question, and, in fact, given the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services didn't answer the question, I will ask him the same question again: Can the minister please explain why it is only time-limited until the end of this year?

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

I thank the senator for her supplementary question. As I started to say before I was required to sit down—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm sorry, Minister, could you resume your seat? I'm waiting until there's quiet before I call the minister back up.

Senator Brown, I just called the chamber to order. That includes you. Minister, please continue.

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

Thank you, Madam President, and I thank Senator Reynolds for her question. This government continues to do whatever we can to assist Australian pensioners in a way that the previous government never ever did. One of the ways in which we are doing that, of course, is that we are now strengthening the—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I have a point of order on direct relevance. I have given the minister representing the minister two opportunities now to answer a very simple question. I ask if you could remind the minister of the question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Reynolds. I will remind the minister of the question, but I think he was going to, in the next breath, answer it before the point of order was called.

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

Thank you, President, and I thank Senator Reynolds for her constant interruption.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about the rockets at Woomera?

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

That'll be the next question! We continue to try to assist and make life easier for pensioners in this country, and that's why we are— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Reynolds, your second supplementary question?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, President. I was going to ask whether they would look to extend it beyond July of this year, given there is a great need. However, given that I didn't get a straight answer to my first two questions, I will ask the same question again.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that Senator Wong said she had the answer. Maybe she might like to hand it over to Senator Farrell. The question, again, is: Why is it time limited? Is it time limited until the end of this year? (Time expired)

Government senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is not helpful when senators, particularly those on my right, call out 'time'. Thank you. Minister?

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

I thank the senator for her a supplementary question. One observation I would make is that there is a facility under the decision that has been made to extend the period of time in extenuating circumstances. So I think your general principle is not completely accurate, in the sense that there is an ability, under the proposal, to—

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, I have a point of order on direct relevance. I will remind you, President, of the question: why is it just time limited to the end of this financial year? Third time lucky, I'm hoping, in the last 20 seconds!

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Reynolds. The minister was being relevant. I call the minister again.

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

I've tried to be as directly relevant as I can, President. The proposition that's being put to me by the senator is not correct. There is an ability, under the proposal, in extenuating circumstances to expend— (Time expired.)