Senator FIERRAVANTI-WELLS (New South Wales—Minister for International Development and the Pacific) (14:30): Thank you, Senator O'Neill, for that question. I will just start off by saying that Australia's population is ageing, and the government has had to make some tough decisions to ensure the age pension remains sustainable and supports those most in need. The 2015Intergenerational report identified that, for every person aged 65 and over, the number of people of traditional working age—being 16 to 64 years old—had fallen from 7.3 people in 1974-75 to an estimated 4.5 people today. By 2054-55, this is projected to nearly halve again to only 2.7 people. Since the coalition formed government in 2013, pensions have increased by $86 a fortnight for singles and about $130 a fortnight for couples. The PRESIDENT: Order. Senator Fierravanti-Wells, please resume your seat. Senator O'Neill on a point of order. Senator O'Neill: The question went to the fairness of the Turnbull government wanting to make Australians work until they're 70 while they're giving a $65 billion handout. We haven't heard anything about the Turnbull government's decision to raise the age of retirement to 70. The PRESIDENT: The senator was dealing with material that I consider to be directly relevant to at least part of the question you asked. I cannot instruct the minister how to answer a question. Senator FIERRAVANTI-WELLS: The hypocrisy of those opposite! Can I just refer you, Senator O'Neill, to a media release issued by Wayne Swan and Jenny Macklin in 2009: Increasing the age pension age is a responsible reform to meet the challenge of an ageing population and the economic impact it will have for all Australians. … … … Australia must move towards a higher pension age over the next decade. While not legislated, increasing the pension qualification age to 70 by 2035 remains government policy. Can I also refer those opposite to an opinion piece written by the member for Fenner, Andrew Leigh, who seems to provide us with gems all the time. (Time expired)