Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

In the other place, the member for Mayo actually answered this question. He said that it is right that the government does help Australians, particularly those at the lower end of the income scale, to switch over to digital television. So there is the hypocrisy. Perhaps Mr Hockey did not bother to phone Senator Minchin. Perhaps he did not bother to phone the member for Mayo, before he made his comments, because those opposite, including Mr Hockey, voted for this program.

The scheme provides essential practical in-home assistance to some of the most vulnerable people in our society, those people who may have no other means of support, to adapt to what can be a confusing new technology for some. A household is eligible to receive assistance under the scheme where at least— (time expired).