JULIA Gillard has confirmed she will press ahead with plans to tighten eligibility for taxpayer-funded private health insurance rebates in the May 10 budget despite Tony Abbott's promise that the Coalition will attempt to block the move.

The Prime Minister told The Australian Online reducing thresholds on eligibility for the 30 per cent rebate, first proposed in the 2009-10 budget but blocked in the Senate, remained "an important policy" of her government.

"The legislation is expected to be reintroduced after the budget," a spokeswoman said on behalf of Ms Gillard this morning.

In the 2009-10 budget, the 30 per cent rebate was to start to be reduced for singles earning more than $80,000 a year and couples earning more than $160,000 a year in a move that would have saved $1.9 billion over four years.

But the hostile Senate rejected the push, with the Coalition insisting the cuts were unfair to families.


Yesterday the Opposition leader told The Australian his policy had not changed on the issue.

Mr Abbott's comments set up a fresh battle in the House of Representatives, with Labor needing the support of independents to pass the measure.

However, it is unlikely to be blocked again in the Senate. This is because the Greens, who assume the balance of power in the Senate on July 1, support the move.   




Comments on this story

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     Lulu Posted at 11:41 AM Today

         Hooray! At long last, Labor will try to do something about middle-class welfare. Yes, this is a rich country and, since the Howard government, the rich have been rewarded far too much. I'm so sick of the greed of people who may have to tighten their belts just a little to enable Australia to get back to being a fairer society. Just turn off the lights, internet, etc., in the kids' bedrooms and get them to join you to watch TV. or whatever, a bit more often and have a discussion. Perhaps mum could do without the botox and spa and dad could cut down on golf and the bar bills, not to mention the absolutely obligatory holidays. It makes my blood boil to think of all the cosmetic dental work done on the taxpayer funded health insurance rebate while there are kids in this country suffering pain through unaffordable dental work. What a greedy, selfish lot we have become.

... wrote on Apr 13^th, 2011 at 3:17pm:




Nor do I.

My issue is that the money saved WON'T be going to those
who need it most, the unemployed, and single parents.

It will be simply be re-named, re-badged, and given STRAIGHT
BACK to the middle-class as...yep, you guessed it.....

WEALTHfare.

Bloody deplorable.

I would agree with you if the government would come up with a deccent health system.
I,am a part pensioner and paid recently $2,900 for my yearly private health insurance, yet when I had a back operation, I still paid another $1,000 extra.

What the government should do, is, introduce three type of health cards; a green one for people on low income, a yeloow one for median income and a red card for the high income earners.
The green card holder should maybe pay 10% of any cost, the yellow card holder 20% and the red card holder 40%, but the waiting time for all the card holders should be the same, according to the urgency of need.
And that should also include dental treatment, after all teeth are necessary for a healthy body.

Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.ii

Well good for you, unless you voted Green instead.

d.

LifeMasque wrote on Apr 14^th, 2011 at 9:46am:




Hahaha!

Not a chance!

It makes my blood boil to think of all the cosmetic dental work done on the taxpayer funded health insurance rebate while there are kids in this country suffering pain through unaffordable dental work. What a greedy, selfish lot we have become.

And another one is the boob job paid for by either medicare or private health when some dodgy doctor says it is psychologically necessary. Bullcrap, it's necessary to please the boyfriend or partner. When are women going to be satisfied with what nature gave them?
I'm a bloke and I'm satisfied with what nature gave me. . .well, not that unsatisfied that I'd undergo painful surgery.