Alp Supported Rebate - Libs
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday December 10, 1998
The Federal Government yesterday tried to embarrass Labor over its stance on the proposed 30 per cent private health insurance rebate, dredging up comments by former health minister Carmen Lawrence.
The move came as Tasmanian Independent Brian Harradine remained inclined to oppose the rebate, a position which, if maintained, will ensure its failure when the Senate votes on it today.
Health Minister Michael Wooldridge said Dr Lawrence supported a private health insurance rebate in 1996, quoting a press release she issued early that year.
``Health economists have proved that to attract new members, premiums would have to be reduced by 30 per cent," he read.
Dr Wooldridge said Labor understood then what needed to be done but in Opposition was saying something completely different, being carping and negative.
``They don't understand health and if you don't understand health, you can't fix it."
Dr Lawrence, now a Labor backbencher, said Dr Wooldridge was being deliberately misleading.
She said the actual quote also noted the gap between health cover and hospital bills would need to be removed for the policy to work.
``Dr Wooldridge has taken these quotes out of context," she said yesterday.
Senator Harradine said he was still studying the Government's proposal but had found serious flaws in the package.
``I'd find it most difficult to vote for the package as it stands," he said.
© 1998 Illawarra Mercury
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