Clare O'Neil (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Housing) | Hansard source

I think we've clarified here that the people that the member opposite is talking about are permanent residents of our country. So let me say again that those opposite can point the finger and blame the problems facing our country on permanent residents. That is not the position of those of us on this side of the chamber. What we see is communities of people, many of whom have lived in our country for decades, who have paid into our healthcare system and who have paid into our aged-care system. You know who's got the problem here? It's those opposite, who want to take away the ability for these people to live as they should in our country. I want people to understand, especially our loved Chinese communities and our loved Indian communities around Australia, that what those opposite are talking about is a group of people who might have lived here for 30 years, and they are saying that they should not be eligible for aged care in our country.

I want to just say one more thing, and then I'm going to come back to housing. Those opposite need to learn that what's heard in this chamber is not just heard in the electorate of Farrer. It's heard in the electorate of Chisholm. It's heard in the electorate of Hotham. It's heard in the electorate of Reid. I'd encourage them to be honest with the Australian people about where the challenges facing our country come from.

Honourable members interjecting—

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