The Doctors Reform Society predicts that legislation offering health fund members a non-means tested 30% rebate on their insurance will not increase the numbers of people privately insured.

"This is a complete waste of taxpayers money" said Dr Con Costa, President of the Doctors Reform Society.

"It’s outrageous that public money is being handed over to what is, in effect, a failed industry" said Dr Costa.

"Figures from Victoria show that 68% of people who are privately insured are using the public hospitals as public patients to avoid paying a Gap payment. Why should taxpayers be funding a failed product?" said Dr Costa.

"We call on the Federal Government to make some provisions so that the privately insured must declare their private status and not be a drain on diminishing public hospital funding" said Dr Costa.

"This money should be given to our Public Hospitals where it is most needed. If the $1.6 billion were to be given to the Public Hospitals it would halve hospital waiting lists throughout Australia" said Dr Costa.

"The Doctors Reform Society questions the deal ‘done’ with Senator Harradine. We do not believe that any real concessions were given to Senator Harradine or that the government can deliver on its promise to provide a full range o ‘no gap’ or ‘known gap’ insurance products" said Dr Costa.

"The taxpayer will now be forced to pay for a useless luxury item for the few (non-means tested) while the public hospitals, on which all our patients depend, will be starved of funding and waiting lists increase" said Dr Costa.

11 December, 1998