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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3165 ..

MR BERRY (continuing):

Does Mrs Carnell solidly support that economic policy? Mr Howard imposed new income-tested daily fees for nursing homes on top of existing daily fees. This means that a resident on $15,000 will have to pay an additional $8.50 a day for nursing care. Does Mrs Carnell solidly support that economic policy? There are increased prescription charges. Four million concession card holders now pay 50c more for each prescription or $3.20 per script.

Mrs Carnell: I do not like that one. That is a really bad one.

MR BERRY: Do you solidly support that economic policy?

Mrs Carnell: No; I hate that one. That one is especially bad.

MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell interjects, "That is a really bad one". It is a really bad one for poorer old people. It might not be too bad for people like you who are well off, Mrs Carnell, and it might not be bad for people like you who sell this stuff, but - - -

Mrs Carnell: No, no; it actually makes it worse for pharmacists. They actually lose lots of money out of that. That is why we think it is really bad.

MR BERRY: This is really bad, Mrs Carnell. It is really bad for the poor, old people who have to pay for it. The Howard Government cut spending on Australian Hearing Services. Now 30,000 Commonwealth seniors card holders are no longer eligible for free hearing aids. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, is this a solidly supported economic policy? Mr Howard slashed spending on home and community care services. Now older people who rely on Meals on Wheels, Home Help, or other home and community care have to pay for these essential services. Do you solidly support this economic policy, Mrs Carnell?

Mrs Carnell: It is a social policy.

MR BERRY: Mrs Carnell says that it is a social policy. So it is not a spending policy if you cut it and affect social policies; it is a social policy. It is a little bit like core promises and other promises, is it not? We change the complexion of them to suit the needs of the day. The fact of the matter is that this is an economic rationalist approach to social services. You say you support his economic policy, so you have to wear it. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, there are changed deeming amounts. Pensioners lose up to $2 a fortnight now that the first $2,000 in cash or deposits for a single person, or $4,000 for a couple, is deemed. Is that an economic policy that you support, Mrs Carnell?

The decisions that Kate Carnell has made negatively impact on elderly Canberrans. There is a new debit tax on all bank withdrawals. That is a solid gift to the aged in the ACT, is it not? Of course that - - -

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