PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Ms BELYEA (Dunkley) (17:51): I would like to thank the member for Fisher for tabling his report and also the member for Riverina for encouraging me to talk on this topic. Over the weekend, I was at a street stall in Dunkley, and I had a number of older people come and speak to me about this particular issue and their concern. One of the things that I noted was that people weren't aware that those people that were over 65 are actually still going to receive a rebate if they earn less than $101,000.

They're still going to receive a 24 per cent rebate for their private health. We're levelling the playing field for people earning less than $101,000 a year. Everyone, regardless of their age and regardless of their circumstances, is still going to actually receive a benefit from the federal government.

I understand there is concern about the cost and how much this is going to impact people's back pocket, but the thing that we are also doing is we're investing the money that we were giving to older people in increasing the number of home-care packages and aged-care packages for older people. That is a really good thing, because we've got lots of demand. We've got an ageing population in this country, and we're trying to keep people in their home for longer.

We need more home-care packages. For me, when I'm looking at equity and fairness, I feel that this legislation that we're looking to pass is actually going to benefit more people. It's more equitable, and it's more just.

That is the Labor way, and that's why I'm a Labor MP. I would like to acknowledge that, yes—to the older people in the community of Dunkley, we hear you, and you still do have access to a rebate of 24 per cent.