Mr TRUSS (Community Services) (3:18 PM) —Mr Speaker, I seek leave to add to an answer that I gave yesterday.

Mr SPEAKER —You could seek leave, but in fact it is normally done by the indulgence of the chair, and indulgence is granted.

Mr TRUSS —Thank you. Yesterday, the honourable member for Lilley asked me a question about a nine-year-old child, Andrew Ramsey, and the eligibility of his family for the carers payment. Andrew Ramsey's case is indeed a tragic one. He meets some of the criteria under the medical assessments for eligibility for the carers payment but not sufficient for him to qualify. His family sought a review of the initial Centrelink decision to decline the carers payment, and that review upheld the initial finding. If the family choose, they can of course exercise appeal rights through the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.

He also asked about the cost of the carers payment initiative. It is, in fact, in this financial year estimated to be about $1.5 million, and that figure will rise in subsequent years. Frankly, I am surprised that the honourable member for Lilley would raise this issue, that the Labor Party would criticise the government's initiative in extending the carers payment to children, because under Labor these payments were not available.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The minister has exceeded the indulgence granted. Has the minister concluded his addition to the answer?

Mr TRUSS —Mr Speaker, I was responding to the comments in the early part of the honourable member for Lilley's question in which he was critical of this initiative, and I am pointing out that 600 Australian families are receiving a carers benefit which would not have been available under Labor.

Mr Swan —Mr Speaker, I seek to ask a supplementary question. It is an extraordinary circumstance. I know you have ruled it out normally, but the minister has come back in different circumstances.

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Lilley will resume his seat.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —He may like to know anything, but until he resumes his seat he will not discover that it is not possible to ask a supplementary question when question time has concluded.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr SPEAKER —To my knowledge, the member for Lilley has not at any stage asked for any indulgence. He called and requested a supplementary question. You have had the opportunity to respond to this. If you wish to raise this matter with me in my office, you can do so, but I am not granting further indulgence at this point.