Greens achieve Medicare win

The Australian Greens today succeeded in achieving common sense changes to the Government's Medicare Levy Surcharge Bill.
 
"After negotiations with the Government, the Greens have successfully guaranteed that income threshold levels for the levy surcharge are indexed so individuals and families will not be caught out by economic movements in the future," said Senator Siewert.
 
"I'm very pleased that the Government has accepted our call for indexation of the thresholds to ensure this kind of mess will not occur again."
 
"We're reluctantly accepting the new thresholds of $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples. The fairest outcome would be to remove the Medicare levy surcharge altogether so that all Australians had the same choice about private health insurance. However, within the current context, lifting the threshold removes an unfair burden on lower-income Australians," said Senator Siewert.
"The Government has also indicated it will support the Greens' amendment to review the impact of raising the thresholds."
"This review will highlight if there are any adverse impacts on the public health system that need to be addressed by the Government," she concluded.
 
For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180
senator.siewert@aph.gov.au  |  www.rachelsiewert.org.au  | www.greensmps.org.au