Rice, Sen Janet

Senator RICE (Victoria) (14:40): Thanks, Minister. I just want clarification that when you say you will fully fund it you are talking about fully funding it in that first financial year, not spreading it out over two financial years, as originally proposed. That's good news, so I'm wondering whether you would be willing to go further, because the Health Services Union, of course, has called for a 25 per cent increase in wages, and, as we know, the aged-care workforce is really low paid. Why would the government continue with the stage 3 tax cuts rather than fund the full amount that aged-care workers really need?