Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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.

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

The question is that motion No. 740 be agreed to.