Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

As I was just indicating, there is a regular cycle of pension increases which takes into account the impacts of the CPI as a part of the pension increase process. And, as I said earlier, during COVID we've put additional payments in place to support senior Australians and pensioners to help them through the COVID pandemic. So I acknowledge the comments that Senator Sheldon is making in relation to the recent CPI increases, but those things are taken into account in the regular CPI increases that are undertaken for the pension. The pension rates increased on 20 September by $14.80 for singles and $22.40 for couples combined, and new maximum fortnightly rates, including pension supplement and energy supplements, are $967.50 for singles and $1,458.60 for couples.