Senator COONAN —My question is directed to the Minister for Social Security. One of the key themes in both coalition government budgets has been fairness and equity. Will you please outline for the Senate some of the measures in the social security portfolio which provide assistance to those most in need?

Senator NEWMAN —Isn't it a shame that the opposition is not interested in fairness and equity and important measures for Australians? They are destructive and anti anything good that is done by this government. They are negative on everything. They seem to see that as the role of an opposition. I can tell them that it will not get them into government.

The key themes in this year's social security budget are measures to assist carers, assistance to retired people, greater consistency and simplification, improved customer service, further compliance and targeting measures and assistance to families. One of the major initiatives in the 1997-98 budget is providing a better deal for older Australians. People who qualify for the age pension but delay their retirement and keep working will receive a tax-free—

Senator Bob Collins —Till they die.

Senator NEWMAN —That is a bit on the level of the `silly old bugger' story. That is all you think of older people—that they are too silly to make intelligent decisions for themselves.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! There are too many interjections on my left.

Senator NEWMAN —Isn't it silly? They really do not like this, do they? It is so good. It is choice for older Australians.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator NEWMAN —Madam President, if the bullies opposite would stop bellowing, then older Australians would know precisely what is involved. It is choice for them. It is an option. It is not compulsory. For up to five years before they actually take up the pension entitlement, they could work on in a job that they want to be in. If they do not want to, if they want to retire, they can. For many people, the choice of having a lump sum on retirement is very attractive. To not recognise that shows that you do not understand the needs of older people.

The longer that older people stay in the work force, the more work they, through spending their money, engender for others. If a single person defers their retirement for five years and qualifies for the maximum rate of pension, they will be entitled to a $21,251 tax-free lump sum. A couple in the same situation would be entitled to a tax-free lump sum of $35,450. That is a choice for them. Do they want to upgrade their motorcar on their retirement? Do they want to have money for repairing the spouting, if it becomes necessary, on their retirement? These are practical things that older people will value.

The simplification of payments has also been a key theme in this year's social security budget. The introduction of a parenting payment, amalgamating the sole parent pension and parenting allowance, recognises the responsibilities of all parents in caring for their children. That will also streamline claim and payment procedures.

The Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission has issued a press release saying that this initiative:

. . . is an example of recognising the need to balance equity with the efficiency that comes with greater simplicity. These measures indicate that Minister Newman has been listening to the community welfare sector with open ears.

Put that in your pipe.

One of the measures in the social security budget package of which I am most proud is the carers package. This package builds further on the government's election commitment in the national carers action plan, which was implemented in last year's budget. The Carers Association of Australia has issued a press release saying:

The budget is a clear indication that carers are a priority for this government. The Howard government has listened to carers.

Press releases along those lines came from the Council on the Ageing and also from the Catholic Social Welfare Commission. No wonder you do not want to ask questions and be interested in that.

As part of the carers package, the government has announced a 28 per cent increase in the rate of domiciliary nursing care benefit from July next year. It has also extended eligibility criteria to enable the carers of profoundly disabled children under the age of 16 to access the carers pension for the first time, and I could go on if I had the opportunity. (Time expired)

Senator COONAN —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. Would the minister care to continue to outline the initiatives for the carers package?

Senator NEWMAN —I would be delighted to. In 13 years of Labor government, no attempt was made to look after those carers of profoundly disabled children under the age of 16. So from 16 on you could get a carers payment, but some of the most demanding years of care were ignored. So that has been welcomed as well.

The government has also recognised the huge amount of stress that caring engenders and has increased the amount of respite care allowed for people on domiciliary nursing care benefit, carers payment or the child disability allowance to 63 days in a year, which at least gives you a Sunday off and a few days annual leave. That is more than can be said for what the previous government did.

There are some children who need to go overseas for medical treatment. Some of the children who are dying have a last wish to go to Disneyland. They were prevented by the Labor government from getting more than the minimum family payment. That has been redressed. They can be away now for up to eight weeks and get that family payment. There is much more, Madam President. (Time expired)