Liberal Leader Mark Parton brought a motion to the Assembly calling on the ACT Government to lobby the Australian Government to abandon the proposed removal of higher private health insurance rebates for Australians aged 65 and over.
Labor introduced amendments that removed calls to write to the Australian Government advocating against this policy, and replaced them with calls to monitor data to determine whether the rebate reduction reduces private health insurance coverage over time. The Liberals sought to amend Labor’s amendments to include some of its original calls, but their amendments were not supported by the Assembly.
Thomas spoke in support of monitoring this issue closely, and in favour of Labor’s amendments. In his remarks, Thomas noted that a federal inquiry is underway into the proposed removal of the higher private health insurance rebate, and that evidence was needed to understand whether the proposed change would impact health insurance coverage and outcomes as the Liberals anticipated.
In his remarks, Thomas highlighted that he recognises and shares concerns about healthcare affordability for older Australians, while also supporting a fairer, needs-based approach to private health insurance rebates that improves intergenerational equity. Thomas emphasised that he supports reasonable changes to this rebate, with some caveats, ensuring support is targeted to those who most need it. Thomas called for any savings from this proposed change to be reinvested in aged care and healthcare services, and said both levels of government need to closely monitor impacts on insurance coverage, on our public health services, and on health outcomes for older Australians.
The motion, as amended, was supported unanimously.