| Publication: | Herald Sun |
|---|---|
| Date: | 10 March 2010 |
| Section: | National |
Article excerpt:
THE Rudd government has yet another double-dissolution trigger in hand after the Senate sank, for a second time, its plan to means test the private health insurance rebate.
The defeat means individuals earning more than $75,000 a year and couples on more than $150,000 a year won't be forced to pay more for their health cover - unless Labor is prepared to call an early election on the issue.
... Last month, the Senate defeated related legislation which would have penalised wealthier Australians without private health insurance by charging them a higher Medicare levy.
... But Health Minister Nicola Roxon wouldn't say if the government was willing to fight a early poll on private health insurance. "We are more interested in being able to reform our health system, delivering the better health and better hospitals that (people) need, than collecting double-dissolution triggers," the minister said through a spokeswoman.
... But health insurers celebrated the legislation's defeat. They said it was a win for the health system generally. "The means-testing of the rebate would have had a disastrous impact on the balance between the public and private health sectors," Australian Health Insurance Association chief executive Michael Armitage said.
