Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is unfortunate that the opposition seek to trivialise the question of the support given to pensioners by not even giving them the respect of asking a primary question about the issue. What we did in the budget was to provide a down payment by putting $7.5 billion extra into supporting pensioners and carers. That was a down payment on what needs to be fundamental reform. We accept that they are doing it tough, but they did it tough for 12 long years, when the Howard government did nothing for them. What we have done is make a serious down payment on assisting those pensioners and we will institute fundamental reform.