Senator LUDWIG —My question is to Senator Newman, the Minister for Family and Community Services. Does the minister recall that in her speech to the National Press Club on 29 September she said:

. . . for some people at least, access to the disability pension is seen as a better alternative to unemployment benefit.

Since when did the applicant have a choice as to which support payment they received and how can several hundred thousand people access a benefit to which they are not entitled? Does the minister acknowledge that the majority of people currently receiving the disability support pension who should possibly be receiving an alternative benefit are doing so because of the slashing of Centrelink operating budgets, the culling of staff and the resulting inadequate administrative and assessment procedures?

Senator NEWMAN (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —That is the silliest question I have heard for a while.

Senator Alston —That is a big statement.

Senator NEWMAN —It is a big statement, and we have heard a few today. The situation is that the growth in disability support pension occurred at an exponential rate under the last government. Since this government came in, it has still continued to rise but at a smaller rate of growth than it did under Labor. It is certainly not a question of saving money for anybody. The appropriate eligibility is laid down in the act. We have not changed the eligibility for disability support pension from what we inherited from Labor. People are eligible to be on disability support pension forever, subject to determining that their disability is continuing. Of course people who are eligible should have that safety net.

I thought you may be interested, Senator, in an article I was reading today in the October-November edition of Access, which is a disability journal. The Labor government did not take much notice of people with disabilities. In fact, their record was appalling. Under this government, we have been doing things that really can make a difference to the outcomes for people with disabilities. Over 13 years, Labor allowed unmet need for people with disabilities in this country to grow at a disgraceful level. We have now made a contribution of $150 million to help the states do something about it.

This article in Access talks about the existing system and the problems there are for people in the existing system; that it gives people a soft landing rather than a bounce back into work; and that it acts like a trapeze net rather than a trampoline. Then it goes on to conclude:

Anybody who really cares about the needs of the disadvantaged in our society should not be scared of welfare reform.

I would ask opposition members: why is it that they are all running scared?

Senator Chris Evans —Don't tell us, tell John Howard.

Senator NEWMAN —That is a quote from Mark Latham, who sits languishing on your back bench.

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Evans, I call you to order.

Senator LUDWIG —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. What you have said is very interesting. In light of the Commonwealth's current push to rehabilitate those receiving disability support, will the minister acknowledge the short-sighted nature of efficiency drives and budget cuts of $18.3 million since 1996 inflicted on the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service by the Howard government—a huge amount?

Senator NEWMAN (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —No.