Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Pocock, for you question and for coming in for the debate. Part of my portfolio, of course, deals with electoral reform, and I look forward to working with you to make a range of reforms to the Australian electoral system. You mentioned one, but there will be many others. I look forward to having some cooperative discussions with you about what those reforms might look like and ultimately look forward to your support for those very sensible changes to our electoral laws.

Senator Ruston made a number of statements in the lead-up to the last election. On the question that you asked, I'd put to you that the opposition did not rule out the application of the CDC to pensioners. Can I refer to Senator Ruston's comments as minister. She told Channel 7 news in February 2020:

We're seeking to put all income management onto the universal platform, which is the cashless debit card.

My office and other offices—Senator McCarthy's office, I'm sure—were contacted by pensioners with worries and fears, and as a result we made our election commitments. Senator Ruston might want to walk away from that statement that she made, but that statement was made, it was unequivocal, and we stand by what we said.