Labor vows to pass health reforms

Siobhain Ryan

Article excerpt:

THE Rudd government has vowed to do whatever it takes to push through $1.9 billion in stalled budget savings, raising the spectre of an early election to bring the Senate into line. On Wednesday night, opposition and crossbench senators rejected cuts to health insurance rebates and increases to the Medicare levy surcharge in their biggest single rebuff to this year's budget. Yesterday, Leader of the House Anthony Albanese committed to reintroducing the private health bills in three months, laying the groundwork for the dissolution of both houses of parliament if the Senate knocks back the measure a second time. "We're prepared to do what is necessary to ensure that our legislative agenda is able to move forward," he told the Nine Network. "We simply aren't prepared to say that it's OK that a $2bn hole be left in the budget."

Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the government did not want to go to the electorate early, but the matter ultimately rested with the upper house.

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