Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Fierravanti-Wells. I refer to reports today that the Prime Minister is taking his misleading scare campaign on Labor's reforms to dividend imputation cash refunds to pensioners across Australia. Will the Prime Minister be telling the pensioners he meets with that he has cut $1 billion from pensioner concessions and axed the $900 seniors supplement to self-funded retirees receiving the Commonwealth seniors health card? How many pensioners in Cowper are worse off as a result of the government's changes to the pension assets test that came into effect on 1 January last year?

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

I thank Senator Moore for her question. I think what was very clear to the Prime Minister in his discussions with the electorate of Cowper today was that the retirees and the pensioners that he spoke to reinforced the message that they will be thousands of dollars worse off. And, of course, what we see on the front page of TheDaily Telegraph today is that not only are you going to rip out $60 billion from self-funded retirees and pensions but, lo and behold, you are going to exempt your union mates—absolutely appalling! But why does that surprise us.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Fierravanti-Wells, please resume your seat. Senator Moore on a point of order.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President—it's been a while!—my point of order is on direct relevance. Whilst I know the minister is giving us some context, my question was particularly about the number of pensioners in Cowper who had lost their entitlements, if that could be answered in the next minute.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, your question began with referral to reports, where you made assertions. You asked your first question, 'Will the Prime Minister be telling pensioners something?', and then you asked the question you just referred to then. It was a very broadly drafted question. I cannot direct the minister how to answer a question nor parts of it. They are entitled to answer parts of it as they see fit.

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

I can assist Senator Moore by telling her that the proposed changes that Bill Shorten wants to bring in to penalise Australians who are—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Fierravanti-Wells, please resume your seat. Senator Wong, on a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on direct relevance: we'd be grateful, Mr President, if you could enlighten us to which part of the question she is now answering.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We only got into a couple of sentences once Senator Fierravanti-Wells got back on her feet.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question dealt with the government changes to the pension assets test, and there was also reference to the billion dollars being cut from pensioner concessions and the $900 senior supplement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, the question made assertions about referral to reports that were beyond a statement of fact, yes—that were political assertions. The question asked was, 'Will the Prime Minister be telling pensioners something else?', and then the question was asked about Cowper. We've all had the opportunity to remind the minister of the terms of the question, which was very broadly drafted.

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

On the issue of the age pension, we have fewer and fewer Australians paying tax for more and more ageing Australians. Our dependency ratio is being affected and, of course, we have to make some tough decisions to ensure that the age pension remains sustainable and supports those most in need. The pension assets test taper rate has been rebalanced to make the system better targeted and more sustainable into the future. The amount of assets, excluding the family home, that pensioners can hold without it impacting on their pension was increased. In relation to pensioners, let me go back to what I was saying before; that is, the $60 billion tax grab that Labor is taking from pensioners— (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, a supplementary question.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the number of pensioners impacted is 2,750, Minister—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please turn to your question, Senator Moore.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My only question is: will the Prime Minister also be telling—

Government senators interjecting—

Senator Wong interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Order, Senator Wong and the various coalition colleagues on my right, so I can hear Senator Moore.

Senator Wong interjecting—

That's why I said 'various on my right'. Senator Moore, I got to 'will the Prime Minister' in your question.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My only question is: will the Prime Minister also be telling pensioners that he wants to axe the energy supplement to two million Australians, including around 400,000 age pensioners?

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

As I have indicated to Senator Moore, in answer to her first question, we have fewer and fewer tax-paying Australians to pay for more and more ageing Australians. Therefore, we have made some very sensible changes in relation to the age pension, and that includes in relation to supplements.

I want to go to one of the things that the Prime Minister did talk about today—and those opposite do not want to hear this. Today Sally McManus was directly asked whether there would be relief for pensioners from your tax grab, and she rejected it—she rejected it. So we know what those opposite are going to do. If the unions tell you what to do, you will go ahead and do it. That is precisely what you will do. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Moore, a final supplementary question.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given this government's continued attacks on pensioners, planning to rip money out of their payments, effectively stealing their money by removing concessions and doing nothing to address the rising cost of living—again, quoting you, Minister—isn't it a bit rich for this minister and this government to pretend they are the best friends of pensioners?

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

That's a bit rich coming from you over there who have just committed to ripping $60 billion out of the pockets of self-funded retirees and pensioners—people who have worked very, very hard all their lives. And, of course, you're going to rip it out from the pensioners but you're going to exempt your union mates. Scoop: Shorten's tax secret. Let me read it to you:

CFMEU slush funds and Labor-aligned campaign groups have been given secret exemption from Bill Shorten's plan to axe investment income cash refunds.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal several bodies set up by the—

militant—

CFMEU and other bodies that support Labor would be able to continue receiving—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! Senator Fierravanti-Wells, please resume your seat. Senator Hinch.

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order: it's impossible to hear anything back here.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I asked for some semblance of order earlier. We've now had a complaint from a colleague who can't hear what's going on. Could senators please keep that in mind. While interjections can be witty, they can get too noisy. Senator Wong, a point of order?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance, Mr President. I wonder if the minister can explain how Catholic Social Services Australia, Caritas Australia and The Salvation Army are Labor slush funds.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, you've been here longer than I, and you know very well that that is not a point of order.

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

It said:

The Daily Telegraph can reveal several bodies set up by the CFMEU and other bodies that support Labor would be able to continue receiving tax refunds for dividends, while 230,000 pensioners across the country have—

(Time expired)

Opposition senators interjecting—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left! A colleague at the rear of the chamber has said he can't hear what's going on. Can you please show others the courtesy to let them hear proceedings.