Abbott's PHI "article of faith" nothing more than an aspiration with disclaimers
Penny Wong posted Thursday, 16 February 2012
Tony Abbott's latest pledge, to reinstate the PHI rebate, will require a further $2.4 billion in cuts to services on top of the $70 billion they already need to find, and is already in doubt with Opposition sources confirming today that it’s dependent on a “strong surplus”.
Given Opposition Finance spokesman Andrew Robb could not commit last week to return the budget to surplus at all, saying “it just depends”, Mr Abbott’s pledge is on shaky ground.
It’s become increasingly clear that everything Mr Abbott promises is nothing more than an “aspiration” dependent on a “strong surplus”, including the PHI rebate, a Medicare Dental Scheme and a National Disability Insurance Scheme.
But the Opposition frontbench cannot even agree on whether they can deliver a surplus, let alone define what a ‘strong surplus’ is.
We know the Opposition already have to make $70 billion in cuts just to balance their books, and now Mr Abbott is out there adding to it with another $2.4 billion commitment.
The Australian people deserve to know exactly what Tony Abbot’s policies are – not just what his aspirations are – and how he’ll fund them.
Mr Abbott needs to explain:
· When will he restore the PHI rebate as he claims he will?
· How will he fund it?
· Why does he think it’s fair that someone on $50,000 a year subsidises the health insurance of someone earning $500,000?
· How will he make up the $70 billion crater in the Liberals’ budget that he’s now dug another $2.4 billion into?
It’s no surprise the Opposition’s economic team can’t agree if, or when, they will deliver a surplus given Mr Abbott keeps adding unfunded, undeliverable “aspirations” to their existing $70 billion budget black hole.
This is yet another example of fiscal recklessness by Tony Abbott.
Tags: Budget,
Economy,
Health,
Health Insurance,
Private Health Insurance,
rebate,
Surplus