buzzanddidj wrote on Feb 14^th, 2012 at 7:40pm:

philperth2010 wrote on Feb 15^th, 2012 at 10:42pm:


Maybe that upper and middle should not have to pay more tax, and not be deserving of the health care rebate, just because we earn more?

matty wrote on Feb 15^th, 2012 at 11:53pm:



You're NOT being punished.

You're merely being required to pay YOUR FAIR SHARE.

Which, thanks to Howard, has NOT been the case.

Oh, BTW, it is NOT a 'fault' to not earn as much as someone else.

That comment was offensive and stupid.

mozzaok wrote on Feb 16^th, 2012 at 6:20am:



Actually, Mozzaok, WELfare payments ARE means-tested.

Savagely, in the case of no-Start recips, less-so for other types.

This system where the neediest get the least, while elitists like Andrei pocket
a motza while screaming for more, is totally skewed the wrong way.

As i said earlier, I'm MUCH more comfortable with MY tax-dollars going to a
pensioner or someone who's on the dole, than I am with it going to the
well-to-do as Howard-era bribes.

And it sickens me that the right continue to view this as a legitimate
entitlement, while begrudging the neediest a modest $50/week increase
in the criminally-inadequate No-Start payment.

olde.sault wrote on Feb 16^th, 2012 at 6:40am:


I didn't mention employers, or whether I liked them or not.

And I have been known to pay wages in my time.

I stand by my wish to see MY tax-dollars go to someone on $13,000
a year rather than to someone on $200,000 a year.

And for someone on $200,000 a year to claim  that they should be
MORE entitled to that money is simply obscene.

mozzaok wrote on Feb 16^th, 2012 at 6:55am:



I'm not arguing that they shouldn't be, Mozzaok.

But I AM arguing that, if WELfare payments are means-tested, then
so, too, should WEALTHfare payments be means-tested, as Labor
have done with the health rebate.

It seems only logical, to me, and I applaud Labor
for finally getting something right..

By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths

Updated February 14, 2012.


The Federal Government and the Greens have hailed a deal over private health insurance as a "win for fairness".   

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has secured Greens support for the Government's health legislation with a $165 million package to provide dental services to low-income earners.   

The legislation will allow means-testing of the private health insurance rebate and an increase in the Medicare Levy surcharge.

The Government still needs the votes of cross-bench MPs, but Ms Plibersek believes the bill could pass the House of Representatives as early as tonight.

"It means that low-income Australians won't be subsidising the private health insurance rebates of much higher-paid Australians," she said.   

"I'm going to let the other crossbenchers speak for themselves, but what I can say is that I feel confident that this legislation will now pass in an unamended form."

The money for dental care will be funded by an increase in the Medicare Levy surcharge for people on higher wages who do not hold private hospital cover.

But the main plank of the legislation will means-test the private health insurance rebate, with reductions beginning for a single person earning more than $80,000 and families on $160,000.

The rebate will cut out completely for singles who earn more than $124,000 and families on more than $248,000.

Labor has been trying to means-test the private health insurance rebate for nearly three years. It represents a $2.4 billion boon to the budget.

Ms Plibersek says the changes are fair.

"Instead of subsidising the private health insurance of people on $250,000 a year, $500,000 a year, $1 million a year, it will instead be used on the sort of things that we're talking about today - the dental health needs of some of our most disadvantaged Australians," she said.   

I see the screeching from the right is still at fever pitch, "how dare those socialists take away our welfare".