STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr REBELLO (McPherson) (16:40): Older Australians have worked hard, planned responsibly and maintained private health cover for decades, as they were asked to do. Now the Prime Minister has broken a covenant with Australians by ripping away the higher rebates for people aged 65 and over from 1 April next year. At my recent town hall, at Currumbin RSL, Senator Anne Ruston and I heard the concerns of the southern Gold Coast.

The signs in the room summed up the mood. They said, 'Hands off our health care, Albo!' Over 2,000 locals responded to my survey on their rebates. Nearly 72 per cent of them said that they could not afford the increase.

More than a third said that they would need to cancel their cover. I told those at the town hall that I'd take all of their messages to Canberra. One wrote: 'Don't be a cruel PM.

Respect the seniors of Australia.' Another simply said: 'Listen to and act for the oldies.' A third pleaded with the Prime Minister to 'stop discriminating against the senior members of our Australian community'. Another proclaimed: 'Why is your ministry so hellbent on creating division in our society? We've paid into private health for 60 years in preparation for our twilight years, forgoing other things and, in the process, contributing to funding the public system.' There are plenty more where that came from.

Another wrote: 'You tell us that you come from humble beginnings. So did we, but now you're taking away all that we worked for.' Labor must reverse these cuts. Older Australians have kept their side of the bargain.

It's time Labor kept theirs. And there are plenty more where that came from!