News

NewsThe Health Minister has heard you, loud and clear
The Health Minister has heard you, loud and clear

The Health Minister has heard you, loud and clear

Tags: Cost of Living Insurance
Last updated by John Mangos on

John MangosCall it a rite of passage or a coming of age, but the FiftyUp Club has reached a significant milestone.

We sat down with the Federal Health Minister, Peter Dutton, to deliver your message in Canberra this week … and he listened.

The Minister warmly welcomed me and my FiftyUp Club Colleague Jess Lindell into his office and he treated your submission with respect.

Together we went through your overwhelming response to the Federal Budget and called on the Minister to reduce the impact of co-payments on Australians aged over 50, particularly for pensioners on fixed incomes.

We also asked the Minister to strengthen the disclosure requirements of private health insurers, so that we can see premium increases by age brackets in the annual round of price rises. The full submission is available here.

The Club talked. He listened.

Then he promised to review your submission more closely and provide us all with a formal reply.

But barely hours after our cordial and respectful talks, the Minister went public to talk compromise with regard to the $7 co-payment proposal.

He repeated in public what he had earlier told us in private – that is, he is prepared to compromise on the co-payment.

This is what Seven News Canberra Political Editor Mark Riley put to air that night, with the Minister saying: “If people have sensible suggestions to make, we’re happy to consider those”.

Thank you Minister.

That was precisely what we had just done.

Riley’s story also quoted the FiftyUp Club’s 11,000-member submission.

Riley called it a “pragmatic retreat from a hardline budget”, and he is right.

I reckon Mr Dutton took on board the 11,000 voices of our 91,000 members in our health care costs survey.

Yes, he does comprehend that more than two-thirds of us FiftyUps believe the system is unsustainable and are prepared to contribute a small amount to our own health care costs if it helps balance the Federal Budget.

But he listened when we showed him that 30% of you say GP co-payments would force you to avoid the doctor when sick, or go to hospital instead.

And 40% say co-payments and Health Insurance prices are likely to change how you vote at the next election.  Ouch, by any party’s language.

Thank you members for your feedback, and thank you Minister for your time and your offer to respond formally.

We know the structure of the Senate complicates the equation going forward. But new Senators must know it is we FiftyUps who pay the bills.

FiftyUps, we are the voice.

Originally posted on .

Join the conversation

FiftyUp Club
The Health Minister has heard you, loud and clear

Share your views with other members. 

Want to leave a comment? or .
Read our moderation policy here.
jennifer
jennifer from QLD commented:

I think Susan has missed the point completely. 

Susan
Susan from NSW commented:

I cannot believe how flimsy the 40% of voters on this site who say they will not vote for the Liberal again in the next election. Perhaps they are right though, as they voted for the Minority, Labor & Green parties to have full control of the Senate for 6 years and the next Government if Liberal will be in the same position of a Government NOT allowed to Govern we are in now. Better to giving Labor or Minority Parties full acceptance of all bills presented by a Labor Government and allowing them to pass with NO opposition. I believe Australian Politics should be a major subject of every Australian Primary School's Curriculum. When I have asked a lot of friends and individuals in passing why the Senate was created and how it works very few can actually answer. Our Senate needs to be read the Oath they took again and have to revise the responsibility they agreed to carry out when taking it. There is NO place for individual personal Agendas that is NOT the task of the Senate members. 

Tom
Tom from NSW commented:

If there is to be a co-payment make it $5 with a safety net & have it go to fixing the budget that they were elected for, not to some way off pie in the sky scheme. No wonder people think it's on the nose. Do it before the senate can take credit for knocking it back. Has there been a government more inept at selling what basically is needed policies than this one? 

Susan
Susan from NSW replied to Tom:

Tom as the co-payment requested was a mere $7 for 10 payments (safety net)= $70. Now you are asking that it be $5 for 10 payments = $50. seems to me to be very little difference really. I disagree with you that medical research is a pie in the sky scheme if it aids to find cures for diseased that are killing or cause disabilities like MS or Motor Neuron Disease and child cancers. Perhaps the Liberal Govt should have screamed LIARS at the misquotes by Shorten etc. in presenting this as a cruel charge and didn't actually push the 10 payments cap. I think actually this Government has NOT been inept at selling their necessary policies. The error they made was in presuming they were voted in by voters who personally realized what being in over your head in debt meant. Instead they got a lot who do not consider the debt as their problem but the Governments?? As well, where we took pride in working and paying for all we owned, we have grown into a hand-out society expecting free financial assistance in everything we take on. We have working mothers who now get $$ maternity leave and then want $$ assistance in Child Care, $$ assistance in sending kids to school, if on low income we need $$ assistance to live and so on. This money has to come from taxes and I have always even as a 17yo mother (I am 67yo now) wondered what will happen when there are less workers than people on welfare. Then we have a Senate who is NOT doing the job elected to do. That is to represent the States they are from's interests in acceptance or rejection of a bill presented by the Government. 

Tom
Tom from NSW replied to Susan:

There is not much difference between $7 & $5 but, just like the difference between a product marked $6.95 instead of $7 or petrol $1.499 instead of $1.50 .It is done for selling & is a practice the public have been brainwashed to. That is the difference. Had they put the money into fixing the budget they were elected to do & then said it was going to the fund after a certain time it would have been easier to sell. Not "perhaps" but should have gone harder & corrected all the misquotes & lies from the Abbott hate brigade that have been allowed to go unchallenged. A lie that is not defended is presumed to be true. Another error of judgement is persisting with the paid parental leave when they are saying how bad the budget is. Unfortunately we do have a welfare mentality & too many voters only think of what's in it for them. Regarding the senate, there is no way Abbott could call a double dissolution election with the entrenched Abbott haters & the appalling attempt of trying to sell him & correct it. I started part time work at 13 on a horse & cart helping a milkman, got an trade apprenticeship at 15 & worked full time until recently working part time again at 73. I have said to the Lib's previously that if the people trying to sell them offered to promote my business for free I would not allow them anywhere it. I hope you read this weeks Andrew Bolt article in the Telegraph. It said so much of my thoughts. I don't want Abbott to be a one term PM but if he has to be sacrificed so be it. I fear this could happen. There are two stand out people that would be more sellable. With the type of media coverage we have now selling & perception is critical. 

Susan
Susan from NSW replied to Tom:

Yes I so agree with you Tom is the fact that we could end up with a whole lot of minor parties running for Federal Government and we would end up with the mess we have in the Senate in Government . Wonder how that would work especially if they were all like Palmer and Lambie etc. I did read Andrews blog and added a comment to it stating that IF the Liberal Government had a publicity department they should sack them. They are not doing a good job. Should be out there using full page ads describing the budget and showing the actual figures as well as the accomplishments also the Senate hold ups etc. I can see why the average person disbelieves we are in the debt we are or believes Shorten when he says there is no debt. I truly do not think that the average person thinks of the debt on a personal basis but it is someone elses problem like the government's One day Hockey is stating that the country is $$ poor and the next day they are paying $Millions for a hospital for the Ebola sufferers or for missing planes etc. The hatred for Tony is a palpable thing I did not like a lot of the ex PM's but I have never hated them. The Labor voters I talk to ALL hate him and so do some of the Liberal voters. Oh well we may be able to vote for Pauline Hansen at the next election. I agree with you that media coverage is now selling and perception but it is difficult when it is slanted against the ones and refused to report on the good and only covers the bad or criticizes and tears down any good points. Good luck in your future and don't ever stop putting your views across. I am always interested in a different outlook and debate. Bye for now. 

Carmel
Carmel from NSW commented:

Unless something is done with this budget I certainly will be changing my vote. The next subject to be tackled should be Private Health Cover, we are at that stage in our lives where we need it but if they keep putting it up none of us will be able to afford it. 

Susan
Susan from NSW replied to Carmel:

I agree with you on one score Carmel the next thing I hope the Fiftyup club might tackle is Private Health Insurance. Can't believe you will change your vote over the Budget. The Senate members who all have their own agenda to push through to suit their own parties etc has NOT allowed any decent changes in Budget in. So I find your statement really sad. It's a shame more of us DON'T read the contents of Budget Proposals for ourselves but rely on the interpretation of Opposition parties and others with reasons to misquote etc. what is proposed. 

Wayne
Wayne from QLD commented:

I have been on a disability support pension for the past eleven years, ten of which I was only paid half of the pension that I was entitled to. Nobody knows why? Then there are people who are on a pension of some kind that say that they are happy to pay the extra seven dollars? I have to ask why they would rather give their money to the government??? By the time I paid the rent, insurance and put twenty five dollars worth of fuel in my car there was only thirty dollars left to buy food. I certainly can't afford to pay the seven dollars to see my doctor especially since I have to see my doctor at least once a fortnight, sometimes more often. I'm all for leaving things the way they are at the moment. 

Susan
Susan from NSW replied to Wayne:

Wayne as a senior pensioner married to a disabled pensioner (1) I do not see that by paying the extra $7 for 10 visits to the Dr. as giving money to the Government, who by the way provide you with your pension. Governments do NOT own the money it belongs to the people. I consider it helping to provide for our future generations by assisting with paying off the disgusting debt we are in. (2) On a single disabled pension over $1000 pf you must really be paying a whacking rent and insurance, if all you can afford is rent, insurance and $25 in fuel with $30 left for food. I cannot understand why you would only get paid half a pension if you were entitled to a whole pension if you presented them with facts and filled the forms out correctly. I have always found Centrelink staff helpful when approached and assisting with my problems. 

Wayne
Wayne from QLD replied to Susan:

I couldn't be bothered replying to your narrow minded comment. I would certainly like to know where you get your figures from when it comes to a single DSP pension because I don't get anywhere near a grand a fortnight. 

Brian
Brian from QLD commented:

Are the exact figures available to me for review? I am all for the seven dollar payment. 

Felicity
Felicity from NSW commented:

Another thought - why are Churches exempt from paying taxes? That is the biggest rort in this country. All they do is stockpile money, and who knows what happens with it... Felicity again. 

Susan
Susan from NSW replied to Felicity:

Felicity I am concerned not only the churches that are exempt including the Muslim Mosques also charities like the Red Cross who have so much donated new goods they sell over the counter (they say to raise cash)perhaps should pay taxes on profits if in opposition to free enterprise. Also ones like GetUp (who get massive donations from overseas like people Billionaire George Soros & run massive Labor ads & not listed on the AEC) as well as Unions and subsidiaries. The largest donor to GetUp in 2010 with a donation of $1.1 million is the CFMEU a lot of money for a Union to donate. I am not religious but please look up who is exempt and don't just use religion as an example. 

Felicity
Felicity from NSW replied to Susan:

Thanks for your response, Susan, however, I was asking a specific question. I want to know why Churches are exempt from paying taxes. I know there are a lot of tax avoidance groups, but I was talking about Churches who own great slabs of countries and stockpile their funds. I will use any example I choose if I want to know. Thank you again. 

Felicity
Felicity from NSW commented:

Thank you John and all the others who signed the submission. Let's hope that the Govt. realises that over 50s are a huge demographic and should not be ignored. We also hold a lot of political sway with our families, so they play with us at their peril. Hopefully common sense will prevail. Thanks again, everyone. Felicity Kay, Narara. 

Ariel
Ariel from NSW commented:

There are plenty of other ways to balance the Budget besides grinding down the poor and miserable- if it even needs balancing which many economists say it doesn't! for example http://www.skynews.com.au/business/business/national/2014/05/13/small-budget-deficit--not-a-big-deal-.html 

jennifer
jennifer from QLD commented:

When those with the greatest wealth multi millionaires huge profit making companies are made to pay their way re taxes, perks etc and pave the way maybe those who can least afford increases to their everyday living expenses may be able to see a way to contribute as well. 

Susan
Susan from NSW replied to jennifer:

I detest this Socialist attitude we have been forced into accepting. I do not consider $50million paid by a wealthy successful business person last year as peanuts. You have had the same opportunity to become a multi-millionaire perhaps not through birth but not all of them have been born to it. We fortunately have free enterprise here in Australia. I even heard a 14yo girl on 2GB yesterday who is rapidly becoming a millionaire after building a business on the internet. She started at 12yo with her mothers help and has built it up. Under your standards she wouldn't hire an accountant to do her tax, she would just pay the amount without deductions. Somehow it seems ridiculous to consider that a normal worker can have deductions from his tax and yet the successful can't. They have had the amount in the dollar they pay raised again by this government as with the previous government. 

Comment Guidelines