Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

The reasons that we are giving company tax cuts—and what we are proposing to do—is to create more jobs in the economy. And the best form of welfare is a job. We all know that. You keep saying that's the situation, but you don't actually believe it. When it comes to pensioners, we won't be introducing policies that are going to hurt them and make them worse off. We are not going to increase taxes on part-pensioners; we are not going to do it to self-funded retirees. This government is making sure that we have a sustainable budget, which means that we will be able to look after those people who are most in need. We will also encourage people off welfare and into work. This is the best thing that we can do. When it comes to pensioners, we will not be introducing the types of policies that those opposite have just released, which will make pensioners and part-pensioners worse off. All you want to do is tax and spend. We want to make sure that we get people working, that we encourage people to work, that we are encouraging companies to employ more people. That way we can make sure that we won't be doing to pensioners and part-pensioners what you opposite will be doing to them if you get onto the Treasury benches. But those opposite have backflipped, but they bungled their own backflip. They can't even execute a humiliating retreat properly. (Time expired)