| Publication: | The Australian |
|---|---|
| Date: | 10 August 2009 |
| Section: | The Nation |
Siobhain Ryan
Article excerpt:
KEVIN Rudd faces the defeat of up to three bills and the deferral of another in the Senate this week but could still strengthen his hand against the opposition via a new inquiry into the Godwin Grech affair. The government's emissions trading scheme, health insurance budget changes, student amenity fees and the alcopops tax are all scheduled to go to the vote this week, but only the final measure has the numbers to pass unamended. The Coalition and crossbenchers' first priority will be to scuttle Labor's flagship Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in the upper house, where the government lacks a majority.
... On the private health budget changes, Senator Fielding is holding out for more generous family-income thresholds for the means-tested rebate, the Greens oppose increases to the Medicare levy surcharge, and Senator Xenophon wants to first see a Productivity Commission inquiry into the issue.
