Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

That is right. I indicate that I support the grandfathering clause. There is a concern that people will be disadvantaged as a result of this and I think that the Greens amendment is a sensible one. I note the comments of both the government and the opposition, but my fundamental problem relates to the whole issue of the threshold. I supported the Greens amendment to raise the threshold from $50,000 to $60,000 for singles and from $80,000 to $85,000 for couples. That really was my minimum position to support this bill. Looking at CPI, an amendment has been circulated in my name with respect to CPI. But that really is redundant and I will not be moving it, because that was on the basis that Senator Siewert’s amendment would be successful.

My plea to the government is: go back to the drawing board. I am concerned about the prejudice this will cause to existing cardholders. But again I note Senator Siewert’s quite genuine and I think reasonable concerns based on public policy about where you have the cut-off and who should be eligible for this in terms of equity. Senator Siewert has made the point that there are many others in the community who do not get a benefit at all who are on other benefits. I thought that the Greens position was the sensible one in terms of the thresholds. In the absence of that being passed, it is impossible for me to support this legislation in its current form.