Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Ruston. Since 2014, how many of the government's budgets have included cuts to the pension?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question in relation to pensions. This government has a very proud record of looking after older Australians. In fact, I'm pleased to let the senator know that we actually are a government that can be trusted to look after older Australians.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I have to say that it seems a little strange to come in here and listen to those on the other side of this chamber lecturing us about what we're doing for older Australians—

Senator Keneally interjecting—

when they are the ones who were seeking to tax older Australians with a $57 billion retiree tax.

Opposition senators interjecting—

I would also like to say that on 20 September, which I imagine is only a few days away—I'm not quite sure of the date today, but 20 September is not too far away—pensions—

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order: as is well understood by all in this chamber, or should be, interjections are disorderly, and there are a lot of interjections coming from the other side. I know they don't want to hear about pensioners having been targeted by Labor with their retiree tax, but that shouldn't be an opportunity to interject.

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

Thank you, Senator Cormann. You correctly draw the chamber's attention to the standing orders regarding interjections, so I ask senators to respect those standing orders. I call Senator Ruston to continue.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. I was just going to mention that from 20 September 2019 pensions will have increased by $125 a fortnight for singles and by $188 per fortnight for couples combined since the coalition came into government in 2013. Also, just so the Senate is aware, 20 September is going to be a great day for our pensioners—

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

Order, Senator Ruston. Senator Keneally, on a point of order?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order is on direct relevance. I've been incredibly generous in allowing the minister to have more than half the allocated time. She has not answered the question or gone near it. Since 2014, how many of the government's budgets have included cuts to the pension? It is just an answer—one, two, three, four, five or six?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) | Link to this | Hansard source

On the point of order: the senator was indeed asked about cuts to pensions, and what Senator Ruston is clearly pointing out is that there have been increases to pensions. Pensions increase twice every year, as Senator Keneally would know if she knew anything.

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

Can he withdraw that, please?

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

Which particular comment?

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

The reflection on Senator Keneally.

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

I didn't hear a personal reflection in Senator Cormann's observation there, Senator Wong. On a point of order, Senator Wong?

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

I know that you're trying to protect a weak minister, but, really, you don't need to get like that.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! On the point of order, Senator Cormann?

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) | Link to this | Hansard source

I would just say that Labor is getting very thin-skinned. Senator Wong should reflect on what she just said.

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

On the point of order, I have been liberal in letting people point out part of a question when there's a legitimate point of order on direct relevance. Points of order are not an opportunity to restate the question nor grab the attention of the camera by trying to restate it in a pointed fashion. The minister was asked a question about pensions. It would not be relevant to talk about other policies or to talk about a more general observation on senior Australians, but the minister was directly talking about pensions. I cannot instruct the minister how to answer a question. The minister was directly relevant, and I ask those who are seeking points of order to treat the chamber with some respect. I will start interrupting them if they are not making a point on direct relevance but are merely undertaking a stunt. The minister was being directly relevant by talking about pensions.

Senator Wong interjecting—

The point of order about direct relevance was not raised by you, Senator Wong, so I'm not making an observation about you at all. I'm making a general observation that points of order on direct relevance at least need to make a claim about direct relevance, not merely restate the question. On the other points of order raised by Senators Wong and Cormann, I did not hear any personal reflections. As leaders they get some extra discretion, but they should not be using points of order to have a go at one another across the table. Senator Ruston to continue.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Mr President. I will continue to advise the chamber, as I said, that pensions have increased under the watch of this government. Pension rates are indexed twice yearly every single year. On 20 September, again we will be increasing the budget. In fact, pension rates will increase to $933.40 per fortnight for singles and $1,407 combined for couples. These rates are indexed twice a year every year and have been indexed twice a year every year since we have been in government.

But that's not all we've done for older Australians. We make sure that we assist them in other ways. For instance, the energy supplement is also provided to older— (Time expired)

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

Senator Keneally, a supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

I do have a supplementary question. Since 2014, how many of the government's budgets have contained an increase in the pension age to 70?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take the exact details of your question on notice to make sure that I provide you with the most accurate information. What I can say is: this is a government that supports older Australians. To come in here and to lecture us when this is the opposition that took to the election an intention to tax older Australians by $57 billion by attacking their retirement savings is, I think, really the height of absolute hypocrisy. I will not stand here and be lectured to by the likes of those opposite, to be insulted by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate when I'm actually advising the chamber that, on every occasion, this government has brought forward increases to the age pension. It's been indexed twice a year every year since we have been in government. So don't come in here lecturing us when you're talking about retiree tax. (Time expired)

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

Senator Keneally, a final supplementary question?

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister explain why Prime Minister Morrison has been so determined to cut the pension and increase the pension age and force farmers, bricklayers and nurses to work until they are 70?

Senator Cormann interjecting —

Senator Wong interjecting —

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

Order at the front of the table! Please lead by example.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President—

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

I hope you're not asking me to call someone to order for interjecting, Senator Keneally! It has been put to me on many occasions that question time is a forum for non-government parties. I would encourage them not to provoke or interject. We would then have more time for questions.

Senator Wong interjecting—

Senator Cormann, on a point of order.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) | Link to this | Hansard source

I object to the description of 'berating'. I was just pointing out that it was Labor who increased the age pension age to 67 years of age.

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

Senator Cormann, that's not a point of order.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I would just like to say that we are the government that backs older Australians, not taxes older Australians.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not going to stand here and be insulted and lectured by the Leader of the Opposition just because I happen to be telling this chamber the truth about what this government does for older Australians. We back them. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been on the record time and time again since he's been the Prime Minister—when he was the Treasurer, when he was the Minister for Social Services—saying that he believes that older Australians are an absolute priority of this government. Look at the funding that's been put into aged care and the support he gives through the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians. This is a government that backs older Australians. It doesn't matter how much you yell and scream and insult me—the Leader of the Opposition insults me—the fact is we back older Australians. (Time expired)