Senate debates Business

Withdrawal


Jacqui Lambie

Jacqui Lambie Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network

4:09 pm

I, and also on behalf of Senator Ruston, move:

That the government business order of the day relating to the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026 be discharged from the Notice Paper.

Katy Gallagher

Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service

4:10 pm

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher

Katy Gallagher ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service

The government will not be supporting this motion and will no longer take any lectures from anyone in this chamber about government spending and finding savings. This is the 'no-alition' back together, voting to discharge a bill that would have seen $3 billion reinvested to deliver more aged-care beds while, at the same time, responsibly managing the budget.

If I look to our friends from the Greens political party on their website right this minute it says the Australian Greens 'want the redirection of all public funds currently subsidising private health insurance, including the tax rebates, to the public health system'. That is what it says on their website, and, when they get tested in this place—what happens?—they run away; they run a mile away from what it says on their own website. What this is doing today—

Let's be clear about this, Senator Allman-Payne. Let's be clear about what you're doing today. You are denying a $3 billion injection into the aged-care system.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

Order! Senator Allman-Payne, you're incredibly disorderly, cupping your hands and yelling. How disrespectful! The question is that general business notice of motion No. 797 standing in the name of Senators Lambie and Ruston be agreed to.