Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I can advise the Senate. Obviously, this government is taking a responsible and prudent approach. That is why we ceased the dementia supplement. We are working with the sector to look at what possible well-targeted alternatives there are. There is an alternative approach, and that is what those opposite have announced. If you flick to the ALP website, you can see that they are running a petition for the reinstatement of the previous dementia supplement according to its previous design. Those opposite have not learnt from their mistake, they have not learnt from their design failure, they have not learnt from the budget blow-out for which they are responsible. I wonder what Mr Tony Burke, the Shadow Minister for Finance, thought last time he jumped on the ALP website and he looked there. He would have slapped his forehead and thought, 'What has Senator Polley done? What has Mr Neumann done? What have they committed to?'

Senator Polley interjecting—

Senator Polley, did you get the sign-off of the Shadow Minister for Finance for this announcement? I doubt it.