Brendan O'Connor (Gorton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Skills and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support this very important legislation. As the shadow minister indicated, it has the support of the opposition, and it's a realisation of a commitment that the Albanese Labor government made in relation to providing support for seniors in this country. Clearly, it's a very significant matter. As we know, there have been sufficient efforts to provide support for people. Cost-of-living pressures are such that we need to do what we can to alleviate those pressures. We have inherited probably one of the largest public debts any government in this country has inherited. It is now well over $1 trillion of debt—debt that was accumulated by the previous government, and most of which was accumulated prior to the pandemic. Whilst, of course, we supported measures by the previous government in responding to the pandemic, to support the economy, to support business and workers and the like, unfortunately I think in some part they failed. There was expenditure on rorts and other things that need to be cleaned up by this government. We want to make sure that seniors in this country are given support, and that's why we're looking to ensure that this legislation is passed. This will lift the income limit for the Commonwealth seniors health card. I disagree of course with the minister.

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