❓ Minister Grylls provides an update on the uptake of the Country Age Pension Fuel Card, reporting strong initial interest and addressing logistical challenges. He highlights positive feedback from stakeholders and outlines the application and processing procedures.
AnsweredQoN 375Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COUNTRY AGE PENSION FUEL CARD
Will the minister advise the house on the uptake of the country age pension fuel card since its release in Albany last Thursday? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
Will the minister advise the house on the uptake of the country age pension fuel card since its release in Albany last Thursday? Mr B.J. GRYLLS
AnswerView source ↗
I am very happy to inform the house that as of close of business yesterday, 7 322 age pensioners in country areas had been through the process that Australia Post — Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I am very happy to inform the house that as of close of business yesterday, 7 322 age pensioners in country areas had been through the process that Australia Post — Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
I am very happy to inform the house that as of close of business yesterday, 7 322 age pensioners in country areas had been through the process that Australia Post — Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”
On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”
For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS replied: I am very happy to inform the house that as of close of business yesterday, 7 322 age pensioners in country areas had been through the process that Australia Post — Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
I am very happy to inform the house that as of close of business yesterday, 7 322 age pensioners in country areas had been through the process that Australia Post — Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners have been through that process. Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr D.A. Templeman : What about Serpentine-Jarrahdale and areas around Serpentine-Jarrahdale? They haven’t got it. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : The member for Mandurah is ruining question time. The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : There are times and there are places for interjections. The member for Mandurah knows that. Now is not the time, and I formally call the member for Mandurah for the first time. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : A total of 7 322 age pensioners signed up last Friday, the first day of the card, with 2 578 age pensioners applying at the 145 registered Australia Post outlets. This created some problems, especially in the member for Albany’s electorate, where people were lined up at Albany Post Office trying to get in to fill out their application forms. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : We do not want country age pensioners to have to line up to get their fuel card, and I am happy to report that the numbers are about 1 500 a day. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : There were 1 509 applications made on Monday, 1 583 on Tuesday and 1 511 yesterday. I think Australia Post is now managing that process quite well. We are very happy about the fast uptake. As members know, we believe that about 35 000 age pensioners are eligible for the country age pension fuel card, and it seems that by the close of business yesterday 20 per cent of them had already made application. We believe that over the course of the next couple of weeks the vast majority of them will apply for it. The process then is that their details will be checked against the Centrelink and Department of Veterans’ Affairs databases to ensure that they are eligible. In the initial stage there will be a three to four-week period before the cards are printed and mailed to them. As time goes on, that process will be much quicker. I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
I thank the member for Albany for suggesting in my talks with him that we provide some briefing notes to country members of Parliament who are being asked questions about this initiative. Anything that deals with age pensioners quite often creates a lot of questions and quite often those questions come from left field. It is important to me that members—such as the members for Collie-Preston and Albany who are supportive of the program—take advantage of that briefing so that they will have that information if they are asked questions by age pensioners in their electorates. I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
I am also very happy with the feedback we have had from industry associations. RAC head of member advocacy, Matt Brown, said — Seniors in the metropolitan area now have access to free public transport and so it’s important from an equity perspective that similar support is extended to the regions. Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.” I was also very happy to read the comment by the Western Australian Council of Social Service on the fuel card, which reads — “We congratulate the Minister on this new scheme for pensioners living in the country, who face significantly higher fuel costs than those living in metropolitan Perth. We know it will provide significant benefit for those who have their own transport or rely on taxis”, said Ms Sue Ash, Chief Executive Officer of WACOSS. The fuel card is therefore being rolled out. For members who are interested, I have a mock-up of the card. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Seniors in regional areas often have to travel significant distances to attend medical appointments, do the weekly shopping or attend social activities. On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”
On top of that, petrol prices in regional Western Australia are typically 8-10 cents/litre higher than in metropolitan Perth. In some remote areas, the price can be 20-30 cents/litre higher. For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”
For seniors in regional WA, it’s essential to their quality of life that they can maintain their independence and mobility.”
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Anyone who would like to see the card is most welcome. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! I realise that many members get excited by the sight of particular cards and I hope the minister is about to play the final card in this speech. Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Mr B.J. GRYLLS : Members are most welcome to see the card. However, it is important that seniors get the correct information and that country age pensioners who are eligible understand the eligibility requirements. I call on the opposition as well as members on this side of the house to avail themselves of that information so that they can provide it to country age pensioners, should they be asked. The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Order! I say to the member for Mandurah that, although it is a decision he will not necessarily agree with, might I suggest that he take some of his oratory skills and deliver them personally to the minister. It might be more appropriate. I formally call the member to order for the second time. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members!
The SPEAKER : Order, members!
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