NSW Seniors Card

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-125000

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

NSW Seniors Card

Mrs LESLIE WILLIAMS (Port Macquarie) (15:25:49):

My question is addressed to the Minister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Seniors. Will the Minister update the House on how the Liberal-Nationals Government is securing a brighter future for New South Wales with cost-of-living measures for seniors?

Mr MARK COURE (OatleyMinister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Seniors) (15:26:11):

— I thank the member for Port Macquarie for her question. She cares deeply about families and seniors right across her electorate.

The SPEAKER:

I remind the member for Port Stephens that she is on three calls to order.

Mr MARK COURE:

Port Macquarie is an electorate that I have visited many times, and I look forward to visiting it many more times in future. Our priority is to ensure that seniors in New South Wales are safe and have access to the best possible services. Seniors have worked incredibly hard and have made many sacrifices. That is why we on this side of the House are helping our seniors right across New South Wales. One of the ways we are doing that is through the NSW Seniors Card. In fact, on this side of the House we have a long, proud track record of delivering for seniors. It was a Liberal-Nationals government that introduced the Seniors Card in 1992, which is now the largest rewards program of its kind in Australia.

Mr David Elliott:

In the world.

Mr MARK COURE:

In the world, Mr Speaker, and it has been easing the cost of living for our seniors across New South Wales for 30 years. More than 1.8 million seniors are able to access discounts and rebates. Each month over 5,000 new members join the Seniors Card program, giving them access to savings and, of course, cost‑of‑living measures. Members are able to locate discounts near them by visiting the Seniors Card website or using the Seniors Card mobile app or the Seniors Card directory. In fact, I publicly put on record that Minister Dominello and I have been working extremely hard to provide seniors with a greater choice.

To celebrate 30 years of the Seniors Card, the Government is digitalising the program via the Service NSW app, and I am proud that thousands of members have already taken up this service. Service NSW is reporting a 90 per cent customer service satisfaction rate with the digital application process. Importantly, this is in addition to the 80 rebates available through Service NSW that help to ease the cost of living for seniors. Surprisingly, it is not just this Government that is delivering for the cost of living for seniors across New South Wales—in fact, across Australia. The Morrison Government has also announced savings for seniors. Indeed, a re-elected Morrison Government will expand the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to include 50,000 more senior Australians. Only a re-elected Morrison Government can manage the economy so that businesses can offer discounts and the Government provide cost—

Mrs Leslie Williams:

I request additional information.

The SPEAKER:

I will grant an extension of time, but the Minister will return to the substance of the question.

Mr MARK COURE:Hansard

As I was saying, seniors in New South Wales cannot afford an Albanese government because, Mr Speaker, it won't be easy under Albanese—I wanted to get that into the . We on this side of the House are delivering cost-of-living measures for our seniors, making sure it is easy for seniors across New South Wales. In fact, State and Federal Liberal-Nationals governments are delivering cost-of-living measures for our seniors and making it easy for seniors across New South Wales.