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Hansard
- Start of Business
- HEALTH CARE (APPROPRIATION) AMENDMENT BILL 2003
- MIGRATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FURTHER BORDER PROTECTION MEASURES) BILL 2002 [NO. 2]
- PAPERS
- THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2002
- MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
-
Budget 2003-04
(McMullan, Bob, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Pearce, Christopher, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Crean, Simon, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Lloyd, Jim, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Governor-General
(Latham, Mark, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Hartsuyker, Luke, MP, Anderson, John, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP)
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Budget 2003-04
- DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Budget 2003-04
(Draper, Trish, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Foreign Affairs: Saudi Arabia
(Somlyay, Alex, MP, Vaile, Mark, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Albanese, Anthony, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
National Security: Terrorism
(Jull, David, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Health: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(May, Margaret, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Billson, Bruce, MP, Kemp, Dr David, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Macklin, Jenny, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Budget 2003-04
(Bartlett, Kerry, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Agriculture: Sugar Industry
(Katter, Bob, MP, Anderson, John, MP)
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Budget 2003-04
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: ADDITIONAL ANSWERS
- PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
- PARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE
- PAPERS
- BUSINESS
- MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS
- MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
- COMMITTEES
- BILLS REFERRED TO MAIN COMMITTEE
- SUPERANNUATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (FAMILY LAW) BILL 2002
- CRIMES LEGISLATION ENHANCEMENT BILL 2003
- COMMITTEES
- THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2002
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SUPERANNUATION INDUSTRY (SUPERVISION) AMENDMENT BILL 2002
SUPERANNUATION (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING) LEVY AMENDMENT BILL 2002 - ADJOURNMENT
- Adjournment
- NOTICES
- Main Committee
-
QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
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Taxation: Uniform Capital Allowance
(Murphy, John, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Treasury: Program Funding
(Burke, Anna, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: Local Government Funding
(Burke, Anna, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Treasury: Staffing
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Defence Housing Authority
(Edwards, Graham, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Defence Housing Authority
(Edwards, Graham, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Attorney-General: Funding
(McMullan, Bob, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Treasury: Superannuation
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Transport and Regional Services: Project Funding
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Regional Services: Rural Transaction Centres
(Gibbons, Steve, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Taxation: Road Tolls
(Gibbons, Steve, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Immigration: Migrant Resource Centres
(Ferguson, Laurie, MP, Hardgrave, Gary, MP) -
Marriage Celebrants: New Appointments
(Hall, Jill, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Telstra: Services
(Tanner, Lindsay, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Telecommunications: Phone Services
(Tanner, Lindsay, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Taxation: Income Tax
(Murphy, John, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
National Security: Hotline
(Murphy, John, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Colston, Former Senator: Criminal Proceedings
(Murphy, John, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Colston, Former Senator: Criminal Proceedings
(Murphy, John, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Aviation: Passenger Indemnities
(Fitzgibbon, Joel, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Prospect Electorate: Bankruptcies
(Crosio, Janice, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Superannuation: Entitlements
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Taxation: Income Tax
(Murphy, John, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Iraq
(Danby, Michael, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Law Enforcement: Foreign Exchange Speculation
(Jenkins, Harry, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Taxation: Family Payments
(Jenkins, Harry, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Aviation: Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
(Murphy, John, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Bunkruptcies: Legal Profession
(Murphy, John, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Defence: Maygar Barracks
(Vamvakinou, Maria, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Governor-General: Travel
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
National Security: Hotline
(O'Connor, Brendan, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Burke Electorate: Medical Officers
(O'Connor, Brendan, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Immigration: Asylum Seekers
(Ferguson, Laurie, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Bowman Electorate: Family Tax Benefit
(Sciacca, Con, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Member for Paterson: Electorate Office Accommodation
(Fitzgibbon, Joel, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Medicare Services
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Health: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Health: Safety Net Concession Card
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Bass Electorate: Medicare Services
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Newcastle Electorate: Program Funding
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Anderson, John, MP) -
Newcastle Electorate: Program Funding
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Newcastle Eelctorate: Program Funding
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Hardgrave, Gary, MP) -
Health and Ageing: Program Funding
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Newcastle Electorate: Program Funding
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Newcastle Electorate: Gold Card
(Grierson, Sharon, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Taxation: Avoidance Schemes
(Murphy, John, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Health: MRI Machines
(Murphy, John, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Shipping: Navigation Act Review
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Aviation: Air Traffic Control
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Health and Ageing: Program Funding
(Jackson, Sharryn, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Immigration: Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy
(Ferguson, Laurie, MP, Hardgrave, Gary, MP) -
Employment: Job Network
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Taxation: Family Payments
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Social Welfare: Age Pensions
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Social Welfare: Parenting Payments
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Bass Electorate: Family Payments
(O'Byrne, Michelle, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Telstra: Services
(Corcoran, Ann, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Immigration: Visa Cancellations
(Lawrence, Dr Carmen, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Rural and Regional Australia: Flood Mitigation Program
(Irwin, Julia, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Royal Commission: Building and Construction Industry
(Murphy, John, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Education: Aboriginal Tutorial Asistance Scheme
(McFarlane, Jann, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Veterans: Vietnam
(O'Connor, Brendan, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Regional Services: Area Consultative Committees
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Anderson, John, MP) -
Employment: Job Network
(McFarlane, Jann, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Social Welfare: Age Pensions
(McFarlane, Jann, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Social Welfare: Parenting Payments
(McFarlane, Jann, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Defence: Special Operations Command
(Price, Roger, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Health: Iophendylate
(Price, Roger, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Aviation: Air Safety
(Bevis, Arch, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Foreign Affairs: South-East Asia
(Danby, Michael, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Foreign Affairs: South-East Asia
(Danby, Michael, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Telstra: Call Centres
(Tanner, Lindsay, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Defence: Medical Officers
(Price, Roger, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Defence: Medical Officers
(Price, Roger, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Defence: Medical Officers
(Price, Roger, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Program Funding
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Program Funding
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Program Funding
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Program Funding
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Program Funding
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Macfarlane, Ian, MP) -
Charlton Electorate: Program Funding
(Hoare, Kelly, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Foreign Affairs: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(Rudd, Kevin, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Iraq
(Rudd, Kevin, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Health and Ageing: Nursing Homes
(Thomson, Kelvin, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Ministerial Staff: Travel Allowance
(Roxon, Nicola, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Immigration: Asylum Seekers
(Andren, Peter, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Member for Macarthur: Newsletter Allowance
(Latham, Mark, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Rural and Regional Australia: Flood Mitigation Program
(Crosio, Janice, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Immigration: Detention Centres
(Gillard, Julia, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Roads: Tugan Bypass
(Ferguson, Martin, MP, Tuckey, Wilson, MP) -
Transport: Heavy Vehicles
(Ripoll, Bernie, MP, Anderson, John, MP) -
Roads: Ipswich Motorway
(Ripoll, Bernie, MP, Anderson, John, MP) -
Iraq
(Ripoll, Bernie, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Veterans: Entitlements
(Ripoll, Bernie, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Iraq
(Vamvakinou, Maria, MP, Vale, Danna, MP) -
Immigration: Detention Centres
(Vamvakinou, Maria, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Medicare: Safety Net
(Vamvakinou, Maria, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Health: Safety Net
(Vamvakinou, Maria, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Medicare: Services
(Vamvakinou, Maria, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
United Nations Human Rights Commission
(Danby, Michael, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Health: National Diabetes Services Scheme
(Jackson, Sharryn, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Hasluck Electorate: Tough On Drugs Strategy
(Jackson, Sharryn, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Hasluck Electorate: Internet Broadband Access
(Jackson, Sharryn, MP, McGauran, Peter, MP) -
Taxation: Information Sharing
(Murphy, John, MP, Hockey, Joe, MP) -
World Exposition: Japan
(Danby, Michael, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Relocation
(Danby, Michael, MP, Kemp, Dr David, MP) -
Immigration: Detainees
(Lawrence, Dr Carmen, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Human Rights: Violations
(Murphy, John, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Health: Modafinil
(Murphy, John, MP, Andrews, Kevin, MP) -
Ministerial Statements: Translations
(Ferguson, Laurie, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Iraq
(Danby, Michael, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP)
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Taxation: Uniform Capital Allowance
Page: 14333
Ms WORTH (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) (9:01 AM)
—I move:
That this bill be now read a second time.
This bill delivers on the government's strong commitment to the principle of universality under Medicare. As promised by the Prime Minister, a maximum contribution to public hospital funding over the 2003-08 period of $42 billion will be provided under this bill. This is $10 billion more than the funding provided under the last Australian health care agreements. Nationally, this represents a 17 per cent real increase in the Commonwealth's commitment.
We are introducing this bill to provide certainty for the people of Australia, who can rest assured that Commonwealth funding for their public hospital services will continue and that they will have free access to the services they require.
The Australian people deserve an accountable health system. Over the life of the current agreements, the Commonwealth's commitment to Australians needing health care has been transparent and unprecedented. The states' contribution is far less apparent.
Until now the Commonwealth's contribution to public hospital funding has been growing faster than the states'. According to the latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data, the Commonwealth currently provides 48 per cent of public hospital funding compared with the states' 43 per cent. Under the new agreements states will be required to match the Commonwealth's rate of growth in funding, so the onus on growth is shared. States will also be required to recommit to the Medicare principles enshrined in this bill, and agree to a new performance reporting framework providing greater transparency of the shared arrangements.
Over the past five years, the Commonwealth has also introduced major private health insurance reforms, including the 30 per cent rebate and Lifetime Health Cover, that have contributed towards a better balance between the public and private hospital systems. This has reduced pressure on public hospitals. Nonetheless the federal government demonstrated our commitment to public hospitals by choosing not to reduce state and territory funding under the last agreements, as we were entitled to do, because of the increase in the number of people with private health insurance.
This decision by the federal government meant that state and territory governments are around $2.5 billion better off over the last three years of those agreements. It also means that the new Australian health care agreements start from a much higher base than they otherwise would have been had we exercised our right to recover those funds.
Included in the Commonwealth contribution to public hospital services is a new Pathways Home program. This is a one-off contribution of $253 million nationally to increase efforts in the provision of rehabilitation and step-down services. This program will help people, particularly older people, to make a smooth transition back to their homes in the community following hospital treatment and in doing so optimise their potential to remain independent.
This bill also provides for minor legislative changes to enable the Minister for Health and Ageing to delegate powers with respect to certain limited matters to the Department of Health and Ageing and alters the definition of `eligible person' to reflect the current definition of the Health Insurance Act 1975. The delegation powers do not extend to grants to the states and territories for provision of public hospital services, but are limited to grants for related projects and programs and are estimated to be 0.9 per cent of total payments under the act.
Once again I confirm the government's strong commitment to the principle of universality under Medicare. This bill extends the period of operation of the act for a second five-year period commencing on 1 July 2003. This will enable the Commonwealth to enter into new Australian health care agreements and maintain funding to the states and territories pending settlement of agreements. I hope that state and territory governments act in the best interest of patients and agree to do as to the Commonwealth has always done—commit to the Medicare principles; tell the public how much money they are prepared to provide public hospitals; and match the federal government's rate of funding growth. It is only fair that they do so.
I commend the bill to the House and present the explanatory memorandum.
Debate (on motion by Mr Snowdon) adjourned.