Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Hansard source

Additionally, this government set the single pension rate to at least 25 per cent of MTAWE. The single rate of pension has increased by $66.20 a fortnight. That is down to this government’s indexing, and that is $66.20 more than they would have received otherwise. These measures have significantly strengthened and protected the real incomes of pensioners. The Australian government has ensured that pensioners share in improved community living standards as measured by wages and are more than fully compensated for any price rises. The disability support pension is not taxable, whereas other pensions, including the age pension, and allowances are taxable.

Additionally, this budget committed to a range of additional measures for Australians with disabilities, including $39.8 million to provide an additional 1,480 vocational rehabilitation places and 987 places for the Disability Employment Network—another great incentive from an absolutely fantastic budget for some of our most disadvantaged Australians. There is $15.8 million to help highly disadvantaged members of society, including those Australians with mental illness and substance addiction. This investment will deliver an additional 2,000 multiple-barrier, intensive personal support places. That is an absolutely flexible incentive for this particular sector. There is $11.1 million over four years for improvements to mobility allowance to ensure that people working over 15 hours per week in a wage-assisted position will be eligible for the higher rate of mobility allowance of $104 per fortnight. There is $1.7 million to provide $300 training credits to people with disabilities who complete 150 hours of Work for the Dole. These are all magnificent incentives in the most recent budget to ensure that our disabled Australians are really looked after.

There is $12 million to fund improvements to the highly successful National Disability Advocacy Program. There is $166 million to assist in the funding of up to 18,000 supported employment positions over the next four years. How can those on the other side come into this place and start questioning the government about our credentials on looking after disabled Australians? Our credentials are the very highest. And we have been able to provide that assistance because we run the very best economy that this country has ever seen.