Bill Shorten Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:05 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Why does the Prime Minister want to cut the indexation rate of pensions and threaten a comfortable and dignified retirement for millions of age pensioners in Australia?
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I may well ask why the Leader of the Opposition wants to saddle pensioners with $25,000 per head of government debt, because that is the budgetary disaster—the debt and deficit disaster—that this government inherited.
Ms Macklin interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Under Labor, debt and deficit was ratcheting up to $25,000 per Australian man, woman and child.
Ms Plibersek interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Every pensioner in this country would have $25,000 in government debt around his or her neck thanks to the policies of members opposite. We were elected to fix this problem.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
You promised no cuts!
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Pensions will continue to increase every six months and every year. They will, however, go up by CPI—the same indexation factor that members opposite think is fair and reasonable for the family tax benefit. Pensions will continue to increase under this government but, unlike under the policies of those opposite, they will increase in a sustainable way. The seniors of Australia understand, because they have had long lives dealing with budgets, that—like businesses, hospitals, households and governments—governments too have to live within their means. The members opposite did not understand this.
Ms O'Neil interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
This government does, and we will deliver.
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education
2:07 pm
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would alert you to the wall of noise that is coming from the opposition today. The Prime Minister tried to answer that question and he could hardly be heard over the din coming from the opposition. I would simply alert you to it so they can be properly dealt with if they continue in this vein.