FED: Health rebate, child support, departure tax change

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-1998
FED: Health rebate, child support, departure tax change

CANBERRA, Dec 31 AAP - Australians from tomorrow can have cheaper health insurance, better
child support arrangements and greater eligibility for health care cards, but will be slugged
more if they fly out of the country.

The 5.7 million people with private health insurance will get a 30 per cent cut, through
either a premium discount, a tax deduction or a Medicare refund.

The health insurance incentive scheme, which is subject to income limits, will continue for
people worse off under the rebate scheme, and the one per cent Medicare levy surcharge will
continue for uninsured singles earning more than $50,000 and couples on more than $100,000.

New child support laws are designed to improve the child support scheme's flexibility,
provide greater equity between custodial and non-custodial parents, and more regular financial
support for children.

Parents paying child support while supporting a subsequent family will now be better off as
new income test rules for family allowance and child care assistance allow them to decrease
their assessable income by deducting half their payments.

The changes also require all non-custodial parents, including those on unemployment
benefits and other social security income, to pay at least $260 a year in child support.

The threshold limit for eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card will be almost
doubled to a taxable income limit of $40,000 for singles and $67,000 for couples, meaning
self-funded retirees will now be eligible.

About 50,000 World War II veterans aged 70 and over who faced danger from enemy forces will
become eligible for the Gold Card - currently available to WWI veterans and WWII veterans with
war injuries - giving them free health care, including private hospital care.

An additional $105 million over two years will start pumping into the Job Network with fees
for Flex 1 services - basic job matching - provided by network member agencies to increase by
$100 for each job placement, or $145 in regional areas.

Member agencies will get the increases backdated by three months.

Unemployed people registering with Centrelink after tomorrow must also register with a job
agency to be eligible for benefits. Those currently receiving benefits can expect a letter
during January telling them to do the same thing or benefits will be cut off.

Those who feel they have been unfairly sacked or employers who wish to fire a worker will
now pay $100, up from $50, to file a dismissal application with the Australian Industrial
Relations Commission.

People flying off to forget their woes at home in Australia will now pay $30, up from $27,
in departure tax.

AAP fh/sc/it

KEYWORD: LAWS

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