Mr SLIPPER (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) (6:12 PM) —I move:

Mr Deputy Speaker, the government is opposing amendments (5) to (7) and (12) to the Superannuation (Government Co-contribut-ion for Low Income Earners) Bill 2003. It appears that the Senate has misunderstood the intended operation of this bill and its application to same-sex couples. The co-contribution measure in this bill only applies to an individual. The bill does not distinguish between eligible individuals in same-sex relationships and eligible individuals in any other relationships. The co-contribution will be available to an eligible person regardless of their marital status or sexual preference. The same-sex amendments to this bill are redundant because there is no possible discrimination in respect of the operation of this bill.

Let me conclude by restating that the agreement negotiated between the government and the Australian Democrats did not include any agreement to deal with the subject matter of this amendment. The government will honour the agreement it has with the Australian Democrats, which is confined to the subject matter of the bill. The government will be rejecting this amendment in the House and will not support it if it is considered again in the Senate. The failure of this bill to achieve passage, or further delays, will significantly reduce the retirement benefits for low-income earners.