CARBON TAX

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Recently, the federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin MP, announced the carbon tax compensation package, which provides cash bonuses and supplements to people receiving Family Tax Benefits A and B, Austudy and the pension. A compensation payment will also be made to self-funded retirees. Will the minister give an assurance that moneys received from the federal government by these people will not be included when calculating income for the purposes of determining housing trust rents?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. In relation to the carbon tax reimbursement payment, it will be made by the federal government. The Premier and I negotiated with the federal government for that to be paid, in respect of pensioners and those receiving housing trust rental subsidies, by way of a supplement, and as such it will not be counted as income and will therefore not affect the rent they pay on their housing trust accommodation.