Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I make no apology, and this government makes no apology, for insisting that payments in support of pensioners or anyone else are directed at those most in need. When Senator Boswell’s government were in power they supported that, and we have always supported them in that. There is not a bottomless pit, and what we are saying in those budget measures is that the seniors health card concessions and other concessions ought to be means tested and ought to be directed at those in need. If the opposition have abandoned that policy, I would like to hear it. But, yes, Senator Boswell, we do target those benefits; we target them at those most in need and this government will continue to do so because our capacity to support pensioners is best enhanced by targeting it to those most in need.