[Greens-Media] Private health money needs to go to public health services

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Private health money needs to go to public health services
Wednesday 19th August 2009

The Australian Greens today said that they would support the
Government's measures to means-test the Private Health Insurance rebate
as it was a step towards implementing Greens policy on the rebate.
However, the Greens outlined that they won't be supporting the Medicare
Levy Surcharge increases.

"Our public health system needs to be properly funded, and that very
funding could come from the billions of dollars which have been diverted
into the private health insurance rebate over the past decade," said
Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert.

"The Medicare Levy Surcharge levy unfairly penalises people who have
chosen not to take out private health insurance and support the public
health system. The Government is targeting conscientious objectors and
the surcharge is being used by Government as a sop to industry to try
and push people into private health industry."

"We have said time and again that the rebate is not an effective
mechanism to attract and retain members in the health funds. It is an
ineffective and inefficient use of taxpayer dollars, basically
supporting the health insurance industry. It's corporate welfare."

"It should not be the Government's responsibility to provide incentives
for the private health insurance industry to attract buyers to its
membership products."

"We will move to split these Bills, so that the Senate can vote on each
Bill." 

"The billions of dollars poured into the private health insurance
industry has not improved our public health system and reform needs to
go further than means-testing the rebate," concluded Senator Siewert.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180