Anne Urquhart Tasmania, Australian Labor Party
4:15 pm
At the request of Senator Marielle Smith, I move:
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and many other social security payments will not be indexed by the Government in September,
(ii) the last time pensions were not indexed was almost a quarter of a century ago,
(iii) this will mean that pensions will be frozen for at least a year,
(iv) the cost of fresh fruit and vegetables has increased by over 5% in the past six months and the out-of-pocket cost of seeing a GP has increased $11 under this Government, and
(v) record low interest rates are hurting pensioners with modest savings; and
(b) calls on the Government to treat pensioners fairly, by ending the Prime Minister's pension freeze.
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries
4:16 pm
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries
Pensions are indexed according to formulas set out in legislation passed by the Rudd government in 2009. The Morrison government is supporting pensioners through the coronavirus period and has already provided two one-off payments of $750 to pensioners and is further considering the implications of unanticipated changes to price indexes.