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

It is true that I received an update in February from the department. As a result of that update, I commissioned the department to undertake a review to see whether it were possible to salvage the supplement. The conclusion that I reached on the basis of the review of the department was that it was not possible to salvage the design of the supplement, so bad was the design undertaken by the previous government.

As I have indicated before, this was not a situation that was the creation of those on this side of the chamber. It was a situation that was the creation of those on the other side of the chamber. I am working with the sector to come forward with a replacement for the supplement. I mentioned before a forum that was in Melbourne where I brought together a number of clinicians, providers and consumer groups to work through what could be a replacement. I am looking forward to receiving advice on that in October.