Senator SCULLION (Minister for Community Services) (6:20 PM) —On the first aspect of the question from Senator Stott Despoja, I understand the baby bonus came in about July 2004, or the maternity payment as it was called then. Since then, not as a minister but as an individual, I listened carefully to my electorate of the Northern Territory. Pretty much every time this was debated, young people—and other vulnerable demographics, but particularly young people—were identified. Certainly the group I was hearing about was those under 18. I know the senator comes from a very different part of the world in some senses—

Senator Stott Despoja —What, South Australia?

Senator SCULLION —indeed—but much of the demographic in my electorate is also represented in hers. All I can say is that I am surprised that she has little knowledge of the wider debate and the, I thought, quite passionate issue at the time about the vulnerability of people receiving a lump sum payment. It is as a consequence of that that we have made these decisions, and these were well reported in the media. As I said, they reflect public concerns and they were well reported in the media.