STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator GATENBY (Tasmania—Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate) (13:55): I rise to condemn the Albanese Labor government's continued push to cut the private health insurance rebate for older Australians. After a damning Senate inquiry, the report was tabled last week, with government senators still recommending passing the bill—this despite the coalition's opposition and the opposition of many older Australians, like those from my home state of Tasmania.

And yet, Labor presses on punishing pensioners. To top it off, freedom of information documents now raise questions about what Labor knew about its impacts. Health Minister Mark Butler said repeatedly that 44,000 older Australians would drop their cover—already too many.

And yet, now these documents indicate 78,000 could drop their cover. That's 34,000 more people. These older Australians could end up in the public hospital waiting lists, and departmental figures show 3.2 million older Australians would be affected by the rebate cut.

That's around two million older Australians who live on less than $37,000 a year. For a single person over 70 with gold hospital cover, this cut means an average additional cost of $408 a year. Despite the evidence heard throughout the inquiry, Labor is asking older Australians to pay more while failing to give them the full picture of the consequences.

This government just makes up policy on the run. Older Australians deserve honesty. They deserve affordable health care.

They should not have to sacrifice meals or heating to maintain their cover. The Albanese government should abandon these unfair cuts to health. And, to every Tasmanian over 65 with cover, remember: it was this Labor government that abandoned you and your health care when you needed it the most.