Government cuts the Private Health Insurance rebate for 2.4 million Australians

The House of Representatives has this week voted to rip almost $2.8 billion out of the pockets of Australians who hold private health insurance.

When Labor were last in power the level of people covered by private health insurance plummeted from 50 per cent of the population to a low of around 30 per cent in the mid-1990s. We also saw premiums rise by almost 40 per cent.

Independent modelling has predicted that up to 1.6 million Australians will drop their cover over the next five years and up to 4.3 million Australians will downgrade their cover, resulting in an increase to the premiums of all members 10 per cent above what they otherwise would have.

We will see an extra 845,000 Australians admitted to public hospitals and an extra $3.8 billion in additional recurrent costs for the public hospital system.

There are 96,728 people in Boothby who are covered by private health insurance. Both Flinders Private Hospital and Griffith private hospital will also be affected.

Over 2,000 Boothby residents have signed a petition opposing this measure. The Government have been trying to get this legislation through Parliament since 2009, in breach of a commitment they gave before they were elected.

I voted against this legislation.

Read my full speech to Parliament on this issue

A future Coalition government has committed to reversing the means test as soon as we can.

Over $11,000 raised for cancer research and support

My thanks to everybody who supported and sponsored my Ride for a reason in the recent Bupa Challenge Tour.

The response that I received from so many people willing to sponsor me in this great cause was truly overwhelming, and I am happy to report that between us we raised $11,112 for Cancer Council SA.

Between all of us who rode in the tour, more than $445,000 has been raised to support this great charity that does so much for cancer research and supportive accommodation for cancer patients receiving treatment.

The ride itself was definitely a challenge, with the last leg in particular a trial of willpower for many of the riders. The infamous Menglers Hill is enough of a test with fresh legs, but after having already ridden 115kms through the hills, it was a particularly daunting obstacle.

However I am proud to report that I did successfully complete the full 138km of the ride, spurning ‘escape routes’ and crossing the finishing arch in a time of 7 hours 20 minutes. This was a significant personal achievement for me, and the knowledge that so many people were backing my ride really provided the mental boost to keep me going.

Clean Up Australia Day

On 4th March, I will be joining hundreds of thousands of Australians to clean up, fix up and conserve our local environment by participating in the 2012 Clean Up Australia Day.

Since the event started, Australians have devoted more than 24 million hours towards caring for the environment through Clean Up Australia day and have collected over 237,500 tonnes of rubbish.

This year my team and I will be cleaning up rubbish in Belair National Park. I invite you to join me in picking up white and yellow bags and donning your gloves to clean up this important local icon.

Register online to join me on Clean Up Australia Day

Alternatively, if you would like to join us, please phone Matt at the Electorate Office on 8374 0511, or meet us at the Park Information Office at 10:00am.

Government overpromises and underdelivers in health

As Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Healthcare, part of my role is to keep the Government accountable in health.

Like Pink batts, school halls and the NBN, delays and mismanagement in health are simply par for the course for this Government.

Some issues that I have been attempting to bring to light recently include:

The Australian Organ Donation Authority's failure to meet its own targets and expectations, despite a $151 million investment of funds.

The 15 month delay in the passage of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Amendment Bill.

The fact that Government is still 'considering' the recommendations of the Review of Health Technology Assessment in Australia, two years after the report's release.

Stalling by the Department of Health and Ageing in answering questions relating to the ill-fated, $13 million Redcliffe GP Super Clinic.

Serious concerns about flawed implementation and a lack of forward planning for the $467 million Personally Controlled Electronic Healthcare Record (PCEHR) initiative

• Also see my interview on ehealthspace.org about this issue.

In the media

I recently appeared on Capital Hill, along with Labor's Ed Husic, to discuss a number of topical issues, including:

• The Coalitions track record of good economic management;
• Labor's current internal power struggle, distracting them from the business of running the country;
• Competition between major retailers in fresh fruit and vegetable prices.

Watch the interview on my website

Community feedback

Through community surveys, Listening Posts and Community Events, I am always in the community getting feedback about what you would like to see happen in our local area and in Canberra.

My next scheduled Listening Post will be on 25 February from 10:00am - 12:00pm at the Aberfoyle Hub Shopping Centre (outside Woolworths). If you have an issue you would like to discuss, please come by for a chat.

If this next Listening Post is inconvenient for you, my current planned schedule for the remainder of the year is below:

• 25 February - Aberfoyle Hub Shopping Centre
• 17 March - Romeo's Foodland Brighton
• 5 May - Mitcham Shopping Centre
• 19 May - Westfield Marion
• 16 June - Pasadena Shopping Centre
• 21 July - Blackwood Goodlife Chemist
• 18 August - Aberfoyle Hub Shopping Centre
• 15 September - Romeo's Foodland Brighton
• MarionLIFE Community Festival
• 3 November - Mitcham Shopping Centre
• 17 November - Westfield Marion
• 8 December - Pasadena Shopping Centre

Please note that some of these dates or locations may change due to unforseen circumstanes, so it is best to also check closer to the event.

Alternately, I am always happy to receive your emails, phone calls, feedback via the website or for you to simply drop into our office.

Representing your interests

As your representative in Canberra, one of my primary roles is to take action on your behalf in Parliament and with government.

It is through constituents that many issues have been brought to my attention. For example, this week I spoke to the House in order to raise awareness of velo-cardio-facial syndrome, an issue brought to my attention through being approached by a member of the public.

Whether you have views on current or proposed goverment policies, would like my assistance in making representations to government departments or Ministers, or wish to raise awareness of particular issues, I always encourage you to contact me.

Out and about in Boothby

Since the January e-newsletter, I attended a number of events around the electorate, including:

• Australia Day Eve Citizenship Ceremony and Community Sports Festival at Club Marion
• Australia Day Breakfast with the Lions Club of Aberfoyle and Districts Inc.
• Australia Day Citizenship and Award Ceremony at Carrick Hill
• Australia Day brunch at Somerton Park Bowling Club
• “Feast to Remember” at Blackwood Bowling Club
• Brighton Surf Life Saving Club’s Brighton Jetty Classic
• Marion Mall Walkers Club 11th Birthday Celebration
• Bangka Day Memorial Service, SA Women's Memorial Playing Fields
• The Feast of Saint Maroun, Lebanese Maronite Catholic Church

I am always happy to get to community events and meet with local groups in the electorate. If you would like me to come to an event which your group has coming up please let me know. I also work with all of our volunteer groups to assist with grants such as the Volunteer Grants.