Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing, Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Scullion, the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Can the minister confirm that, while the government will pay some carers a one-off bonus of $1,000, it is not giving the same amount to carers who are on the age pension? Is it not the case that carers on the age pension will instead receive a $600 bonus? Didn’t the Treasurer say in his budget speech that these payments were to ‘lend a helping hand to our carers’? Can the minister now explain why the government thinks some carers are worth $400 less of a helping hand than others?