HANSARD - Budget

Mr PASIN (Barker) (09:53): I rise today to add my voice to concerns about the thousands of older Australians facing significantly higher private health insurance costs under the Albanese Labor government's proposed cuts to the private health insurance rebate. Around 23,300 Barker residents aged 65 and over currently hold health cover and stand to be significantly impacted by Labor's changes, facing increases per year of between $807 for singles and $1,614 for couples. The Albanese government is now winding back support that helped them maintain their cover, at a time when many seniors are facing rising housing costs. Older Australians who have worked hard, planned for their retirement and maintained private health insurance should be supported, not penalised. Many seniors will be left facing difficult choices, forced to cut spending elsewhere, downgrade their cover or abandon it altogether. One constituent from Mannum has told me:

My husband I have private health insurance but taking away the rebate will make it extremely difficult if not impossible to pay. We have maintained private health insurance for over 50 years.

Another couple from Blanchetown have said to me:

We are extremely concerned about the proposed Medicare Rebate changes for Seniors. We are on the Pension and we have made it a priority to keep our Medical Insurance at the cost of cutting out food supplies, clothing etc. We are struggling! We have paid all our lives and now treated like this.

The consequences of this policy extend beyond those directly affected. Labor's cuts will not reduce demand for health care; they will simply shift more Australians from private health to the public system. That means greater pressure on public hospitals and health services that are already under strain. I want to conclude with another email from a constituent. This one is from someone in my hometown of Mount Gambier. The constituent said:

I have paid for top tier private health insurance since 1977, which together with my wife and family, has ensured we have not been a burden on the public health system. If the Albanese Government is successful in getting these rebates removed, I will likely be forced into the public system because I fear it will no longer be financially viable; right at the stage of life where we are most susceptible to health care needs.

This policy is both unfair and short sighted. Anthony Albanese says he's focused on cost-of-living relief, but this policy does exactly the opposite for Barker seniors. I'll continue to fight these changes and let the government know they have the wrong priorities for seniors, for taxpayers and for our health system.