❓ Mrs. Harvey questions the Minister for Seniors and Ageing about cost-of-living increases impacting seniors, particularly electricity bills, and criticizes the government's response. The Minister defends the government's actions and criticizes the federal government's lack of support.
AnsweredQoN 305Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SENIORS —
COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES
305. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
I refer the minister to the massive
cost-of-living increases imposed by his government.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : He was
asleep. I wanted to wake him up.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
will show respect for the minister. You might think he was sleeping, but he
said he was reading. You will have respect —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, you might think it is funny, but I do not. He is a minister of the
Crown and you will respect him. Member for Scarborough, ask your question
again.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Thank you.
Minister, I meant no disrespect.
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. Member, start again.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I refer to
the massive cost-of-living increases imposed by the government, including the
more than 30 per cent increases in electricity bills imposed on struggling
pensioners in one year alone. Why does the minister refuse to stand up for
seniors in Western Australia when the government imposes such increases and
when will he stand up to oppose Bill Shorten's attack on those seniors
who have tried to provide for themselves in retirement?
COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES
305. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
I refer the minister to the massive
cost-of-living increases imposed by his government.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : He was
asleep. I wanted to wake him up.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
will show respect for the minister. You might think he was sleeping, but he
said he was reading. You will have respect —
Dr M.D. Nahan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, you might think it is funny, but I do not. He is a minister of the
Crown and you will respect him. Member for Scarborough, ask your question
again.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Thank you.
Minister, I meant no disrespect.
Ms S.E. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. Member, start again.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : I refer to
the massive cost-of-living increases imposed by the government, including the
more than 30 per cent increases in electricity bills imposed on struggling
pensioners in one year alone. Why does the minister refuse to stand up for
seniors in Western Australia when the government imposes such increases and
when will he stand up to oppose Bill Shorten's attack on those seniors
who have tried to provide for themselves in retirement?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
I was a little distracted because it is the first question I have had about
seniors this year. I was a bit shocked to say the least; in fact, I was very,
very shocked.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : I can tell
members one thing: our government takes seniors and the issue of elder abuse
very, very seriously, unlike the federal government, which has provided no
funds to address that issue at all. We also understand that some seniors out
there are doing it tough and we have put programs in place to help them. We
also had a seniors summit, if I can call it that, at which we called all the
departments together to work out what we can do moving forward. We are doing
further work to see what we can do in the budget—members will have to
wait for that time will come—to help seniors in the future, unlike the
former government, which left them behind.
I was a little distracted because it is the first question I have had about
seniors this year. I was a bit shocked to say the least; in fact, I was very,
very shocked.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M.P. MURRAY : I can tell
members one thing: our government takes seniors and the issue of elder abuse
very, very seriously, unlike the federal government, which has provided no
funds to address that issue at all. We also understand that some seniors out
there are doing it tough and we have put programs in place to help them. We
also had a seniors summit, if I can call it that, at which we called all the
departments together to work out what we can do moving forward. We are doing
further work to see what we can do in the budget—members will have to
wait for that time will come—to help seniors in the future, unlike the
former government, which left them behind.
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