Senator Alan Ferguson

[Banjo]

Dear Mr Banjo


Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding residency rules for the Disability Support Pension.



The changes you have referred to were outlined by the Rudd-Gillard government on the 28 March 2010 in a media release which I have attached for your information. You will find it here.



The proposed changes will require amendments to legislation in order to take effect. To date the government has neither introduced a Bill to accomplish this change nor offered to provide a briefing to non-Government members regarding this matter.



The Coalition will carefully consider any proposed changes if and when a bill is introduced.



I hope the information I have provided is of some assistance to you.



Yours sincerely



Alan Ferguson

Senator the Hon Alan Ferguson
DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
LIBERAL SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The press release referred to is the one that inspired this forum.

[Banjo]

He says absolutely nothing except that the legislation has yet to be introduced .
There's nothing there that gives us any hope at all, the Liberals are the ones who forced hundreds of thousands of unemployed onto the DSP to make the dole figures look better in the first place.
I'll give him his due, he's the first Liberal who's given me the courtesy of a reply.