Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to this bill, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings, and I seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The statement read as follows—

Purpose of the Bill

The bill provides a one-off increase of $15 per fortnight to the above general rate component of the extreme disablement adjustment rate of disability pension, increases the general rate disability pension by 5 per cent, increases the former domestic allowance component of war widow and war widower pension by $10 per fortnight and indexes general rate disability pension and the former domestic allowance component of war widow and war widower pension with reference to both the Consumer Price Index and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings in the same manner as service pension.

The measures in this bill are beneficial to veterans, war widows and war widowers and their families.

Reasons for Urgency

Certain existing pension rates and indexation arrangements do not take account of the relative value of the general rate disability pension in the existing environment of low inflation and rising wages. The bill ensures greater equity across all veterans’ and war widow and war widower’s pension payments. Early passage of the bill will directly benefit veterans, war widows and war widowers.

Question agreed to.