House debates Questions without Notice
Bereavement Allowance
Maria Vamvakinou Calwell, Australian Labor Party
2:32 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. How many widows will have their bereavement allowance cut while this Prime Minister is giving a $65 billion handout to big business?
Dan Tehan Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services
I'd like to thank the member for her question. As she knows, through the welfare reform bill, we're simplifying seven payments into one and, as we have made very clear, 99 per cent of people will be no worse off under these changes. Ninety-nine per cent of people will be no worse off under these changes.
I can also say to her that what we are doing is making sure that those who have to use our welfare system can navigate it and that it is not complex. It is something that you did on your side as well, because we want to have a simplified welfare system which is easy for people to navigate and, as I've made very clear, 99 per cent of people will be no worse off.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers (House)
I fear he's finished without answering the question.
Tony Smith Speaker
The member for Jagajaga—that was not a point of order. I warn her. You can rise on a point of order, not to make a 10-second statement. The member for Jagajaga well knows that.