Senator CHRIS EVANS —My question is directed to Senator Newman, the Minister for Family and Community Services. Is the minister aware of the tax ruling concerning vouchers that are provided to poor families to help them buy the necessities of life and to pay bills? It states, `The introduction of the GST may mean that a voucher will purchase less of some items.' In light of this, next year when the minister's department is handing out the Christmas emergency relief grants to community organisations, will this minister be increasing all grants so that vouchers can retain their full value at local shops?

Senator NEWMAN (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —I am aware of claims to that effect, and I do have a brief somewhere amongst all this paper which I would be delighted to share with the opposition. I have now found what number it is. It happens to be about No. 48 of my briefing notes.

Opposition senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! The level of sledging that has been going on in the chamber this week is absolutely unacceptable, and I can assure you that it is not appreciated by people who have been listening to question time.

Senator NEWMAN —I am sure that the opposition is really in search of information, and I would not want to hold it back from them. I will get it by the end of question time; I will present it to them then.

Senator CHRIS EVANS —Madam President, I ask a supplementary question. I thought for a moment that the minister had broken her duck, but that was not the case. Surely, Minister, you have got an answer to the core issue, which is: won't you be providing less aid to struggling families at Christmas unless you increase the grants to compensate for the GST? Surely you can give us an answer to that.

Senator NEWMAN (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —I can point out two things: one is that that tax ruling you quoted from—and I am sure you quoted selectively, because it is your usual practice—said `may'; and, secondly, the vouchers that are used for fresh foods for example—and that is the majority of stuff that people are buying at Christmas—will carry no GST whatsoever, so the voucher would then have full value.