Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Housing) Share this | Hansard source

Before I start answering some of the questions that the member for North Sydney, the shadow minister, has asked, I support his comments about Jeff Whalan and the excellent work that all of our public servants do. The area of Human Services is a very difficult area. I know that because I was the shadow minister for some time. When the now shadow minister, the member for North Sydney, was the minister, although we did not always agree, I would say that the work that I saw was always very highly professional. I would also like to put on the record that it was very plain that the member for North Sydney was very committed to this portfolio, particularly that project of reducing red tape and forms. I think he and I shared the view about the baby bonus form and having to write down every single entry into and exit from Australia for the previous 10 years for both parents. In fact, I remember calling the department and asking, ‘Why on earth do you need to know this?’ They were asking whether you were an Australian citizen or eligible for social security benefits overseas. Why not just ask that question?

See this speech in context