Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

Since 2009, this government has increased the maximum rate of pension by $207 per fortnight, and from today the pension rate has increased again. Today that means an extra $35.80 per fortnight for those on the maximum rate. My department will be delivering these payment increases to over 2.2 million senior Australians. This includes the extra support through the Clean Energy Future Household Assistance Package. Pensioners have already received their clean energy advance. Today they receive the first of their clean energy supplements. This government recognises the enormous contribution that seniors have made to this country and to this society. We know those opposite do not share that view. We know those opposite would take money away from seniors in this country. We know that under an Abbott government every single pensioner in Australia would lose more than $350 per year. Every pensioner couple would lose more than $530 per year. Those opposite would take back more than $1 billion a year in extra support that this Labor government is delivering to pensioners. This government recognises that senior citizens have very specific needs, and we have extra support for accommodation, for income support— (Time expired)

Opposition senators interjecting—