Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers (House)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Social Services. How many pensioners across Australia are worse off today because of this Prime Minister's changes to the pension assets test?

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right! The Treasurer will cease interjecting. The minister will resume his seat. The Treasurer and the Leader of the House are warned.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. I'd like to point out that since the coalition formed government in 2013, pensions have increased by $86 a fortnight for singles and about $130 a fortnight for couples. Pensions continue to rise twice a year, and the age pension is paid at the highest fortnightly rate of income support payments in Australia's social security system.

On 1 January 2017, the pension assets test and taper rate were rebalanced to make the system better targeted and more sustainable into the future. Around 165,000 Australians received a higher pension as a result of changes to the assets test from 1 January 2017. This includes about 50,000 people who moved to the full pension. Around 90 per cent of pensioners are either better off or have had no change to their pension under these measures, and you supported it.