Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bass for his comments and his questions. Indeed, it was my pleasure to spend some time with the member for Bass during the time leading up to his successful election. I wish him great success and longevity in continuing to represent the constituents of Bass. I look forward to working with him for many years into the future to ensure that the good citizens of Bass are well and truly represented in this place.

Yes, I can say to the member for Bass this measure has been budgeted for. The estimates are that by 2018 there will be nearly 27,000 additional cardholders because of these measures. It is interesting the Labor Party is very silent on this measure. There is reason for that—in their whole six years in government they did not index it once. No wonder there is silence coming from the other side.

Ms Macklin interjecting—

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