‍DR ANNE WEBSTER MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS: private health insurance rebate cuts, aged care, COP31 climate talks, renewable energy transition

Kenny  

Let's catch up with Shadow Regional Health Minister Anne Webster in Mildura, and Anne, we've spoken before about Labor's plans to cut private health rebates for the over 65. Looks like you might be getting a bit of help from the Greens.

Webster  

Well, it seems that David Shoebridge has come out and said that he will not accept any half measures that he wants pensioners of any sort, whether they've got a small pension or a whole pension, that they should not that they should be carved out effectively of Labor's cut to the rebate. The problem is that if he was really being fair and reasonable, he would look at self-funded retirees who also may be on the same income or even less than somebody who's on a pension, and they will still have to pay the higher prices. So we will absolutely not vote for this rebate cut again, and what's more, we will repeal it when we come into government.

Kenny  

Yeah, good - because look, from the Greens' point of view, and it's very much their their shtick, though, is it? - but yeah, any tiniest amount of pension you get, you still should get the rebate. Fair enough, but yeah, this is the problem. They think if you don't need the pension, you're easy pickings. It's so contradictory because Labour forces compulsory superannuation on everyone, supposedly because they want us to be able to fund our own retirement, and then if you do, you know, manage to save enough and fund your own retirement, then they want you to be exempt from these sort of discounts for seniors. It doesn't make sense. They should be available to all.

Webster  

No, absolutely. And how to reward those who work hard all their lives, pay their taxes, save up a bit, and you know, try and make it through their latter years to be rewarded by this government and to have to pay more for private health. We already know from the National Seniors Australia that 100,000s of elderly or older Australians will be impacted by this, and I think Mark Butler is not on a winner, and he ought to just pull it off the table and stop pretending that it's good for older Australians because he's going to provide them with 5000 beds. Clearly, that's not going to happen in residential aged care. That's not going to happen. So - you know - why tax? Because that's what they love to do, Chris.

Kenny  

Yeah, indeed. Now tell us about the people in Sunraysia. Will they be following what's happening in COP31 with lots of excitement? Looking forward to Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen telling the world about our wonderful renewable energy transition happening in Australia and how we should be pressing ahead even faster?

Webster  

Ah, look, absolutely, Albo and Bowen's green dream, and it is regional Australians' nightmare living through this, and to see what they're spending over there, the number of Australians who are over there promoting our green dream in Australia when we are suffering, as Jacinta said earlier, with higher power prices and having farms railroaded by bad governments, bring on the Victorian election, I say. You know, it's just awful. It's a dystopian fantasy land that those men are living in, and to continue pushing that on Australians is ridiculous.

Kenny  

Yeah, they're so far out of touch. It seems like a different planet. Thanks for joining us, Anne. Appreciate it, Anne Webster there, up in northwestern Victoria, up in the Sunraysia district at Mildura.