Vic: Democrats hit back at wish list description

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2004
Vic: Democrats hit back at wish list description

MELBOURNE, Feb 15 AAP - The Australian Democrats today hit back at federal Health Minister
Tony Abbott for describing their proposed changes to the Medicare safety net package as
a wish list.

Mr Abbott, whose Medicare Plus package stalled in the Senate after failing to win Democrat
and independent support, said last week it would be hard to meet the Democrats' "wish
list".

"They certainly seem to want a great deal," Mr Abbott said.

"Nevertheless, the door appears to be still open a little with them, as well."

But Senator Bartlett today said the Democrats' proposals, which include a $5 increase
in the bulk billing rebate, a universal safety net with one threshold and more funding
for mental health support and chronic illness management, were not a wish list, but a
"serious attempt" to address "very real problems".

"The Democrats are very frustrated that minister Abbott is portraying our serious attempts
to improve the situation as just being a wish list," he said.

"The Democrats believe we should improve the safety net, but we are not going to support
putting in place a flawed one.

"That's why we've gone to minister Abbott to try to ensure that any changes are ones
that will try to assist people rather than just being a safety net full of holes."

Under the safety net package, concession card holders and family tax benefit recipients
will receive an 80 per cent rebate for all Medicare health expenses once they reach a
$500 threshold.

The threshold for everyone else is $1,000.

AAP kw/gfr/tma/br

KEYWORD: MEDICARE BARTLETT

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