Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

Almost 1.5 million families at risk from Joe Hockey’s cuts to ‘entitlements’

Joint Media Release with:

  • Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Minister for Disability Reform
  • Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Employment Participation, Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare

Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has made it clear a Liberal Government would cut back support for Australian families.

In his speech in London last night, Mr Hockey said government funded pensions and other such payments should all be means tested.

At risk under Mr Hockey’s plan are some of the:

  • 782,000 families who receive the Child Care Rebate.
  • 521,000 carers who receive Carer Allowance plus the annual supplement of $600 for each person they care for.
  • 141,500 carers of severely disabled children who receive the $1,000 annual Child Disability Assistance Payment.

This Labor Government has already made the economically responsible decisions to introduce means-testing for payments where appropriate.

But we know how important it is that families, pensioners and carers are supported.

Meanwhile Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey want working families and carers to have less, and billionaires to have more.

Tony Abbott wants to introduce a $4.5 billion Paid Parental Leave scheme, without a means test, to give millionaire mums up to $75,000 to have a baby.

And the Liberals have already made it clear they will claw back the Gillard Government’s pension increases and our increases to family payments, leaving all pensioners worse off under a Liberal Government.

What else will the Liberals cut to fill their Budget Black Hole?

Only a Labor Government will deliver for Australia’s pensioners and families.