Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the Treasury Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2017. To be frank, I do so from a position of always being reluctant to see any change or increase in levies as any part of the budget process. My objective as a Liberal is always to see lower taxation and lower costs charged to the good people of Goldstein. But part of the challenge also is that if we are to live in a free and just society—and I believe that we should live in a free and just society, which is central to the whole idea of Liberalism itself—you have to make sure that you support and assist people who are in the position of least advantage, particularly those people who are in situations that are outside of their control, particularly people with a disability.

I say that because justice is a very important principle that sits at the heart of Liberal philosophy. We believe in freedom; we believe in responsibility; and we believe in justice. We believe in justice because the world is not fair. We know that—many people have said that before. Some people are born into circumstances, or circumstances are visited upon them, where they need assistance and support. Therefore, having support and assistance for people who have a disability and often cannot change their circumstances to make sure that they can live a life of freedom and dignity is very important. That is why the efforts by the Turnbull government to deliver on the NDIS—but, more importantly, to fully fund the NDIS and acknowledge that there was an unfunded component to it—are so important. That is what is being underwritten by this piece of legislation: a commitment by the Turnbull government to make sure that people with a disability have the support and care and assistance they need and to recognise that the gap that existed when we came to government is now being filled. There are thousands of families all across this great continent of ours who appreciate the support and assistance that the Turnbull government is providing, because this piece of legislation is underwriting and providing certainty and predictability so that the gap that existed under the previous government, the unfunded component, will finally be filled.

It seeks to also do so by increasing the Medicare levy for people who are in a position to afford it and carry some of the cost. Let's be frank: they already carry a very significant cost of social welfare programs in our country and many of them are my electors, but they are also in a position to be able to contribute and continue to assist people today. It is that measure and that approach that we have brought to the change in the Medicare levy. It provides certainty that low-income earners will continue to receive relief from the Medicare levy through the low-income thresholds for singles, families, seniors and pensioners. The changes will ensure that low-income households that did not pay the Medicare levy in the last financial year will generally continue to be exempt in the next financial year if their incomes have risen in line with or by less than the consumer price index.

As I said already, the key objective of this piece of legislation is to fill the gap around the NDIS and recognise that the Medicare Levy plays an important role as the proxy for Medicare as well as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and underwriting them, so that we can have a just society for all Australians and people get the support and assistance that they need. Particularly the $55.7 billion gap in the NDIS, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, over the medium term had to be addressed in this budget because we know that so many providers involved with care, assistance and reform as part of the NDIS, particularly support services, need that sense of certainty that did not exist with the $55.7 billion gap that we were left with. We have to be mindful of making sure that is filled so they can go on to plan with certainty. I have heard that directly from people within my community.

I was fortunate recently to have the Treasurer visit the wonderful Goldstein community and particularly Bayley House. Bayley House is an institution in the suburb of Brighton. We were taken on a tour by Peter, Bree and Mary, who are clients of Bayley House and simply want to be able to live a dignified life. I go to Bayley House regularly. They invite me for important occasions like Multicultural Week, where they bring together people from across the community to celebrate the diversity that sits within our community. The feedback we got from the Bayley House community was how much the effort of the federal government to fill the $55.7 billion gap that we were left with is appreciated by our community. It gives the institution and the families the opportunity to plan with certainty. But we know this is not just helped by Bayley House. In my electorate is another important community support service called Marriott House, which I am fortunate to visit from time to time as well. In fact, I was at their AGM only last year. At their AGM, I participated in working with and singing with clients at Marriott House who were also going to be clients of the NDIS into the future. We need to make sure that we provide all residents, regardless of who they are in this great country, the opportunity to enjoy the benefits and security that comes with the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The amendments to the Medicare levy are an important part of the contribution to fill that gap, as I have already outlined. It is part of a broad package brought forward by the Turnbull government to underwrite and make clear the commitment that this government has to a just society where people, regardless of their circumstances or their health conditions, can get the important assistance that they need, and it will fulfil the sense of social obligation that we all have. It is part of a suite or a package as well as the Medicare guarantee.

By doing so, the government is making it very clear what its priorities are. Its priority is to make sure, in line with other measures like reform of the tax system and making sure businesses are more capable of employing people, that, as a country, we seek to advance economic and social progress through the preservation of our culture and our institutions, underwritten by social safety net, so that no matter who you are or where you are in the country—including if you are in the wonderful electorate of Goldstein—you will get the support and assistance that you need. We all have to share the responsibility of carrying that burden. That is the reason I support this legislation.

Debate adjourned.

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