Mrs DRAPER (3:19 PM) —My question is addressed to the Minister for Human Services. Would the minister advise the House of steps taken to make it more convenient for Australians, and constituents particularly in my electorate of Makin, to deal with Centrelink and other human services agencies?

Mr HOCKEY (Minister for Human Services) —I thank the member for Makin for her question. I will give it my best shot. I want to wish the member for Makin a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. It is the season of goodwill.

Honourable members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order!

Mr Murphy —Joe knows it’s Advent!

The SPEAKER —The member for Lowe will remove himself under standing order 94(a). When the Speaker is on his feet, he will not interject.

The member for Lowe then left the chamber.

Mr HOCKEY —As David Gower said, it is all about timing! As part of the goodwill of the season, the Minister for Workforce Participation just had a baby. He complained to me about the form—

Mr Beazley —It’s a miracle!

Mr HOCKEY —It is a Christmas miracle! His wife had the baby, I should say. But it did not stop the minister from complaining about the form he had to fill out to claim the maternity payment. We listen to those concerns on this side of the House. That is why, from March next year, we are abolishing a form that is nearly 29 pages long and replacing it with a three-page form and a simple question—so it is easier for people to claim it. Abolishing those seven million pages of forms is part of the Christmas present from the coalition to the Australian people—cutting red tape. But we can go further.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr HOCKEY —There is more! It is Christmas time. No-one can explain to me why, if you lose a credit card, you can just ring up the bank and get a new card, but, if you lose your Medicare card, you have to go into the Medicare office, fill out a form and send it somewhere else. From next year we are going to abolish two million forms. If people are going to change their address, we are going to abolish another one million forms for that as well. Abolishing 10 million pages of forms, cutting red tape—that is what Christmas is about: goodwill to all, goodwill to Australians!