Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Patterson for her question. I know that she has had a long interest in these issues. She may or may not have been in the chamber when I indicated in an answer to Senator Bernardi what the Prime Minister said, which was that there was ‘no way on God’s earth’ that he would leave carers and seniors in the lurch. As I said in relation to the bonus system, not only will carers and seniors not be worse off under the budget, we are also working on providing certainty of payments to carers and seniors in the longer term. That is, we are looking to make sure those sorts of things are built in. I have also indicated that, while I cannot announce details of the budget—people will have to wait for the budget—when seniors and carers compare their bonus payments this year with what they received last year they will be no worse off.