Mr ANDREWS (Menzies—Minister for Social Services) (14:56): I thank the member for Petriefor his question. I can confirm for the member for Petrie, and for all honourable members in this place, that, yes, the energy supplement will be kept. It will be retained. Indeed, all current recipients of the energy supplement will continue to be paid that supplement. That is up to $361 for single pensioners per year and for pensioner couples up to $546 per year. This was a commitment that the coalition took to the last election to assist with cost-of-living pressures for Australians. All income support recipients—pensioners, both age pensioners and disability pensioners, and recipients of family tax benefits—will keep the energy supplement. This means that some 17,000 pensioners in the electorate of the member for Petrie will continue to receive the energy supplement. Not only will they receive the energy supplement but also they will have a twice-yearly increase in their pension and they will continue to receive the pension supplement. The 17,000 pensioners living in Redcliffe or Clontarf or surrounding areas such as Griffin in the electorate of the member for Petrie will continue to receive the energy supplement. It is not only the 17,000 pensioners in the honourable member's electorate who will benefit; some 12,500 recipients of family tax benefit part A will also continue to receive the energy supplement. And it is not just in the member for Petrie's electorate; it is in the electorates of every member in this place. Right around Australia millions of people will continue to receive the energy supplement; indeed, anybody currently receiving it will continue to receive it in the future. The honourable member for Petrie also asked me about the coalition's commitment to scrap the carbon tax. Of course we are committed to scrapping the carbon tax because scrapping the carbon tax means a reduction, on average, of $550 for households around Australia on top of the energy supplement, which will continue to be paid to current recipients. The Labor Party said they were going to scrap the carbon tax but they are filibustering in the Senate to avoid scrapping the carbon tax. We on this side of the House believe that we should do what we said and scrap the carbon tax. Why doesn't the Labor Party get on board and do likewise?