Better health and ageing for all Australians

Media Releases

How slow can Ms Gillard go?

Julia Gillard intends to scrap the 30 per cent Private Health Insurance Rebate. But she has not let anyone in on her secret yet.

In this section:

16 September 2003

How slow can Ms Gillard go?

Julia Gillard intends to scrap the 30 per cent Private Health Insurance Rebate. But she has not let anyone in on her secret yet.

She has no credibility on the issue of private health insurance. She repeatedly refuses to come clean with more than 8.5 million Australians who have private health insurance.

She has kept them in the dark for two years by refusing to give any commitment to retain the 30 per cent Private Health Insurance Rebate.

The Labor Party has hidden behind its so-called review for nearly two years. More than 8.5 million Australians with private health cover deserve to know what Labor has in store for them.

The 30 per cent Private Health Insurance Rebate delivers about $750 a year to the average family budget, making private health insurance affordable, giving families choice and taking pressure off State public hospitals.

When asked on Sunday Sunrise recently what the Labor Party intended doing about the Rebate, Ms Gillard said:

"I don't feel under any pressure to get that decision out early."

She is a slowcoach. She has no credibility when it comes to private health insurance. Under Labor, families face a $750 tax rise with the scrapping of the 30 per cent Private Health Insurance Rebate.

Unlike the Labor Party, the Coalition is committed to private health insurance. One thing all Australians can be sure of is: private health insurance will be 30 per cent cheaper under the Coalition than Labor.

Unlike Ms Gillard, I have demonstrated my commitment to private health insurance. I intend taking a good product and making it better by ensuring that there is downward pressure on premiums and members get value for money.

I have acted in a timely fashion to remove the payment of so-called lifestyle benefits by health insurers under their ancillary products.

From December 31 2003 the payment of private health insurance benefits for goods and services which are primarily for sport or entertainment rather than direct health care will cease.

I announced yesterday that I have asked the private health fund industry to develop a framework for assessing whether a therapy should be covered under ancillary health benefits.

No-one should take any notice of Ms Gillard on private health insurance until she levels with members on what she intends to do to with the 30 per cent Private Health Insurance Rebate.

Media inquiries: Randal Markey or Sarah Higginbottom, Media Advisers, Senator Patterson's office, 02 6277 7220.