Page 2475 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 18 August 1993
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3.5 per cent we are looking at. Of course, in Fightback we had a compensation package - another lie by the Labor Party, another fraud committed on the people of Australia and the people of the ACT. If we want some ACT figures, let us look at the changes to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. The pharmaceutical safety net limit has been increased from $312 to $400.
Mr Connolly: Less money for pharmacists.
MRS CARNELL: Actually, it will not be; quite the opposite, in fact. This will cost 5,000 ACT families an extra $88 per year and it will mean that Canberrans will pay substantially more for over 130,000 prescriptions in the coming year. That is 130,000 prescriptions filled in the ACT for which people will pay more. Canberrans will pay an extra $41m in increased sales and fuel taxes. That works out at $137 per head, or $500 per family. That is $500 for an average Canberra family, just in the area of sales and fuel taxes.
I have not spoken at this stage about the increased costs for eye tests, which will no longer be rebateable - unless you have private health insurance, of course. The Health Minister suggested last night that people should take out private health insurance if they wanted to claim for their eye tests. We also have the $100m for waiting lists. That is a very big positive - if we had any private hospital beds we could contract, but unfortunately we do not have enough because Mr Berry would not let us build the other private hospital. Interestingly, the other option Senator Richardson has for the $100m is to go down the track of workplace reform, to do something about the problems that exist in the hospitals so that we cannot use operating theatres after hours. What a good idea! I hope that Senator Richardson gets his way on this.
MS ELLIS (3.56): Much has been said today by both our local conservatives and their Federal colleagues about the effect of this budget on the ACT, on Australia, and in fact on the world - they have been that sweeping in their comments. However, none of these commentators and critics have highlighted the benefits to ordinary Australians through this budget's social justice strategy. In fact, being aware of the Liberal Party's disdain of social justice principles, the same principles which will ensure equity and equal distribution of wealth, resources and services, I would not be surprised if they are not even aware of or, should I suggest, remotely interested in these important elements announced by the Federal Government last night. As Brian Howe, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services, has stated:
The Federal Government's vision of social justice is that of a fairer society in which we seek to achieve a more even distribution of income and access to key services, particularly where there is demonstrable need. Our policies and programs are designed to give people access to services which enable them to participate as active citizens of Australia ... The Government's highest social justice objective is to reduce unemployment.
We are all aware of and concerned about the high levels of unemployment Australia-wide, but most particularly, of course, in the ACT. The Follett Government has initiated several programs to assist the unemployed people of the ACT and, as we all know, the ACT has achieved higher levels of employment than any other area of Australia. However, the enormous unemployment problem does remain. The Federal Government last night announced several new initiatives which will assist those who are unemployed.
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