Labor’s bid to cut the higher private health insurance rebate for over-65s has been blocked in parliament, with the Greens withholding support unless pensioners receive a carve-out from the new rules.
What we know:
- The Greens, Coalition and crossbench senators teamed up in the Senate on Wednesday to block Labor’s bill, which would have saved the federal budget $3bn over four years if successful (The Guardian).
- Those opposing the bill further scrapped it from the Senate notice paper, effectively killing off the policy by preventing debate (AFR).
- Health Minister Mark Butler held a snap press conference following the block, vowing to push ahead with the policy and reintroduce the exact same legislation on Thursday (ABC).
- “What appears to be a rush of blood to the head by the new leadership of the Greens party, that's all become a bit of a pile on in the Senate and a discharge of a bill instead of a reasoned debate,” he said (ABC).
- “Don’t try to sneak this cut back onto the agenda. Drop it for good,” said Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston. “Today the Senate stood with older Australians” (ABC).
Read more: Australia’s health system needs a fundamental reset (The Saturday Paper)