Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing, Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

I concur with Senator Allison. We are not suggesting that PHIAC should have the ability to set premiums. It does not have that role at all; it is the regulator. But, if one of PHIAC’s objectives is to minimise premiums, then decisions that it makes as a regulator will have to be made within that prism. We are mindful of the fact that one of its objectives is to keep the level of premiums down. By removing that objective, the regulator can make decisions without being mindful of keeping premiums down. It is an appropriate objective for a regulator to have. Yes, it has been in the act since 1989, which would indicate that the Labor Party was interested in keeping premiums down. I think the message to the community, if the government does not support this amendment, is that the government is big on rhetoric and small on effort to keep premiums at a minimum. It is disappointing that the government is not, from what I have heard, going to accept this fairly straightforward amendment.

Question negatived.