Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) | Hansard source

I'll take the interjection. Even your own New South Wales state Labor health minister acknowledges this.

Independent modelling has found that for every dollar Canberra claims it will save by cutting this rebate the public health system could face around $1.20 in additional costs. Newsflash: that's not a saving, for those on the other side of the House. It's a false economy. It shifts costs onto pensioners, taxpayers and state hospitals. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. The government's own modelling concedes that at least 44,000 older Australians will drop their cover. That's their own concession, while industry research suggests that more than 250,000 could drop or downgrade. I know which one I am going to believe. When an older Australian drops gold or silver cover, they do not suddenly stop needing a cataract operation or a joint replacement. They end up on the public hospital waiting list—more pressure, longer waits and more ambulance ramping.

John from Golden Beach in my electorate is feeling the squeeze, too. He's 68. He rents a house and now he's facing higher rents—on his estimates, an extra $60 or more a week—because of this government's recent changes to its tax policies on housing. And now he's going to get slugged more for this private health insurance tax. At the same time, Labor is asking older Australians to pay more for their health cover. Its aged-care system is leaving people waiting months for support that they've already been assessed as needing. The government's own data shows a median wait of around 10 months between approval for Support at Home and services starting. Older Australians can be assessed as needing help to shower, prepare meals, take medication or remain safely at home and then be left waiting month after month after month.

Older Australians deserve better than this hopeless Labor government. After I launched my Stop Labor's Health Tax on Seniors petition I got 9,800 signatures. Go to my website and sign up. I want 200 more signatures, and then I'll take it to the PM.

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