Scott Morrison has defended one of his hand-picked candidates for promising to lift the aged pension, even though the Liberal Party has no such plans.
Warren Mundine has been driving a campaign bus throughout the NSW seat of Gilmore emblazoned with a pledge to increase the aged pension rate.
The prime minister claimed Mr Mundine was simply pointing out the payment automatically increased every six months.
"It is indexed, going up twice a year, just like all payments of that nature, whether they be pension or Newstart, they go up twice a year," Mr Morrison told reporters in Perth on Tuesday.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten pointed out governments of all persuasions increased the pension in line with inflation.
"That's like giving yourself a medal for getting up in the morning," he told reporters.
Mr Mundine posted a photograph of his campaign bus to social media, but it has since been taken down.
His pension promise has since been overwritten by a pledge to build a stronger economy.
