DR ANNE WEBSTER MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL HEALTH
SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MALLEE

TOPICS:  Labor’s approach to farming, carbon sinks, farm inputs supply shortages, red and green tape, private health insurance rebate for over-65s, Labor’s divisiveness, projections on downgraded or dropped insurance cover,  public health system, health insurance reform

Cenatiempo

It's Michael Hampson, the CEO of Norco. We'll catch up now with the Shadow Minister for Regional Health and Regional Communications, Dr. Anne Webster. Anne, you're from the Sunraysia - yYou know exactly what all this is about. Oh, have I got the wrong line? Sorry, sorry, Anne. There you go.

Webster

Exactly, I heard you, and totally right. That CEO is speaking for every farmer across Australia, and we need to back our farmers, or we won't have a farming industry. You know, you talk about carbon sinks. Now we've got a major farm down here in Mallee, Telopea Downs, which is looking to be sold off to foreign entities so they can plant trees, and we have a hotel for vermin and pests. So I mean, honestly, it's insanity.

Cenatiempo

You know, I I think back to I mean, I used to grow wine grapes and and stonefruit just across the border from you in Renmark, and you know, I mean, back I'm talking 30 years ago, and yeah, there was trouble, there was problems, and farms of … all farmers have always faced hardships, but you know, back then there was never any shortage of fertiliser. There was never any shortage of diesel. You know, we used to produce our own fertiliser. We don't do that anymore.

Webster

No, that's exactly right. And we need to get back to that. We also need to cut the red tape and the green tape and all the other tape that makes it nigh on impossible. Farmers spend more time filling out paperwork. You know, we've got biosecurity legislation where farmers have to pay for people who are importing high chairs from China. You know, there are just insane barriers to farming in Australia that has just got to stop, and it takes every industry to stand up, and it takes good government - let's not go there! -  to actually make the changes.

Cenatiempo

Well, let's talk about that, because the reason we're talking to you this morning is about this private health insurance rebate cut for over-65s. I spoke to Andrew Leigh this morning, who says, "Well, we're just making it fairer for young Australians by punishing older Australians.”

Webster

Yeah, isn't that great? Honestly!

Cenatiempo

That's my words.

Webster

That's what he's telling us.

Cenatiempo

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

Webster

But I mean, what he's saying is, and what Albo frequently says is, the Prime Minister, I should call him appropriately, is that we divide Australia!  No, no, we do not. It is the Labor government that constantly divides Australia, and now they're dividing us on the basis of age. I think it is perfectly disgusting. There is a very sound reason why people over 65 should be getting some rebate to stay in private health because we don't want them leaving private health. And what we see now is that the South Australian government, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania - so you know, middle of the political divide-is bipartisan -  do not like this move by the Albanese government to cut the rebate that people over 65 would be getting. The stats or the projections are terrible. The Australian Private Hospitals Association say that their expectation is that 67,000 people will pull out of private health and that 200,000 people will reduce their cover in private health. If you move from gold to silver, you can forget being able to get a knee replacement, hip replacement, cataracts, etc. Which is what happens. You know, we fall apart as we get older. Those things need to happen. It's the time that we need people to be in private health, because the public health system is a complete disaster, and the states manage that. So, the states are coming out and saying, "Well, we think this is a really bad idea,” and they know what they're talking about because they're not managing the pressure on their public health system right now.

Cenatiempo

I think it's fair to say, though, there does need to be an overhaul of our private health insurance system. I mean, I'm one of those people that's reduced from gold to silver in recent times, only because I don't need pregnancy cover because I'm never going to be pregnant. But having said that, you know, it's about it's a money-saving exercise. But there should be a system where we can actually just pick and choose what cover we need, like we can in any other insurance field.

Webster

Yeah, look, I agree with you. I think there should be more flexibility in private health insurance because there are plenty of people go, “Why am I getting this when it doesn't cover the things that I need?” That's a very good question. So, but that is a separate argument to what the government are placing now because Mark Butler is saying, "Well, we're going to save $3 billion next year, and then a billion dollars every year after that by this particular measure. What he will find is that people who are 70 years old and over as a couple will pay. $1,600 extra to remain in their health cover. That's a problem when you are on a very fixed income, such as a pension, and many people are. For them to pull out of private health means that they'll be going and waiting in waiting lists. Older Australians who have paid taxes for decades, who have invested in private health insurance for decades, deserve some credit. And I don't buy the line that Albanese and co have been putting on the Australian people that, and particularly older people, that you know, well, this is about this is about fairness and equity. I can't say what I want to say about that.

Cenatiempo

No, neither can I unfortunately. Anne, really good to talk to you this morning. Thanks for your time.

Webster

Thanks so much,

Cenatiempo

Dr. Anne Webster, the Shadow Minister for Regional Health and Regional Communications.

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