Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Hansard source

I know Senator Xenophon has an interest in this bill; so, Senator Xenophon, when you wish to engage, please do so. I have a few questions that I want to get on the record. Minister, you indicated in your second reading speech that there would be basically no changes to the operation of the private health insurance industry but also that there are going to be savings. I would like some understanding of where those savings might be. You did indicate that they would align certain provisions with the APRA provisions, but I am at a bit of a loss to understand where these valuable savings are going to be and to whom the savings will flow. Naturally, I am interested in understanding that they will flow to consumers if in fact there are going to be any savings. Given that I did indicate in my speech on the second reading that the cost to a policy holder is something like 60c, I am still of a view that we need to understand what the motivation for these amendments would be. I will also go to protections of consumer access to information in some subsequent questions.

But where are the savings? What will they be? Who will benefit from any savings that may be achieved?