Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

What can I say after that? I thank the members who have taken part in the debate, particularly the member for Oxley for, once again, a very erudite performance. We have been debating the Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2008. These changes will ensure that low-income individuals and families will continue to be exempt from the Medicare levy or surcharge. This bill will increase the Medicare levy low-income thresholds for individuals and families in line with increases in the consumer price index. The low-income threshold in the Medicare levy surcharge provisions will similarly be increased. The bill will also increase the Medicare levy threshold for pensioners below age pension age to ensure that, where these pensioners do not have an income tax liability, they will also not have a Medicare levy liability. The amendments will apply to the 2007-08 year of income and later income years. I note that indexation of the Medicare levy has enjoyed bipartisan support for a number of years. I again would like to thank those who have participated in this debate. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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