Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have moved on, Senator McKenzie. Senator Tyrrell was on her feet, asking her question, and you continued to interject. If you can't sit quietly, leave the chamber. Senator Tyrrell, please start again.

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister representing the Minister for Social Services, Senator Farrell. Giving birth to twins in Australia is incorrectly and unfairly classified as a single birth. This misclassification is causing Tasmanian and mainland families to struggle financially. When I wrote to Minister Rishworth in the previous parliament, last year, I was informed that the government would not treat those that have twins as having had multiple births, because they think it's more important to fund those with higher order multiples—that is, triplets or more. God help any family! I reached out to the Australian Multiple Birth Association, who told me that those families that have twins face a cost burden of five times a single birth, so why does the government continue to exclude families with twins from recognition under the multiple birth allowance and other financial supports?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Tyrrell for her question. I am not the Minister for Social Services, as you would be aware, but I am representing the minister today. I appreciate your question.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator has asked a really genuine question. She is representing her constituencies in Tasmania.

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's about 30 seconds, Don.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think the minimum you could do, Senator Scarr, is to give her the courtesy—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Tyrrell, on a point of order?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No disrespect, but I think that we should get back to the question, if that's okay.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll remind the minister of your question.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that intervention, Senator Tyrrell. Just so you're clear, I was simply defending your right to ask this question on behalf of your constituents. You've asked a very—

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order on relevance. I think we'd all agree that the minister, as much as we do like him, has not gone anywhere near answering the question that was put by the senator.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is being relevant. He has acknowledged the question. He has further acknowledged that he is not the directly responsible minister.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I can see that the opposition is completely opposed to me answering this question in a proper way. I will take this issue up with the minister. We've got a very fine minister in this space who's very determined to do the best for the community generally, but in particular Tasmania, and I will come back with a proper response to your question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Tyrrell, first supplementary?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In September 2023, in answering a dorothy dixer during questions without notice, you said that the Housing and Homelessness Ministerial Council had met 'multiple times this year'. That council met two times in 2023. Does two count as multiple, or did you mislead the Senate?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I never, ever, ever mislead the Senate. I make a determined effort on every occasion to make sure that I answer each question directly. If on the odd occasion I do get it wrong—sometimes I do; I have to admit that—I come in and make an admission. I would say, based on the question you've just asked me, that the answer I gave on that occasion was the correct one. Two is more than one, and it's a multiple. If that's the question you're asking me, my answer is that I've answered it correctly.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Tyrrell, second supplementary?

Tammy Tyrrell (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Instead of basing eligibility on the tortured logic of a definition of 'multiple' that nobody outside of the ministerial wing would recognise, wouldn't it be simpler to listen to the AMBA and base multiple birth support payments on the number of children that are born, and potentially have tiers of support based on how high the number is?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hear what you're saying in that regard. I shall, again, take it up with the minister directly responsible for this issue and I will come back with a genuine response to your question.