Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate to the honourable senator that Australian pensioners have not received a cut to their pension. In fact, they have received an increase every March and September during the term of this government, completely in line with that which has been in place. So for Senator Carr to assert that Australian pensioners have had cuts is simply false, especially when you take into account that we removed the carbon tax and nevertheless retained all the compensation for pensioners for the carbon tax. So not only did they get their twice yearly increases; they also got the compensation for the carbon tax in circumstances where we removed the carbon tax.

So here you have yet again another snapshot of Senator Carr mispresenting to the Australian people that which is the actual fact. Indeed, the budget papers would tell the honourable senator, if he had the capacity to read them, that there was in fact an increase for hospitals and for schools. These matters are all there for Senator Carr to read and honestly tell the Australian people. But, having left such a legacy of debt and deficit and so anxious to cover it up, the Australian Labor Party have embarked on a campaign of misinformation. So gross is their campaign of misinformation that they even vote against their own savings measures in this place. So they go to the Australian people and promise $5 billion worth of savings, and then, when we put up those Labor savings, they vote against them, man and woman, under the leadership of Mr Shorten. (Time expired)