Medicare levy hike to pay for the NDIS :(

[nero_bolt]

THE average worker could be hit with an increased Medicare levy of about $300 a year in next month's budget to help pay for the national disability insurance scheme.

The federal government is seriously considering increasing the Medicare levy from 1.5 to 2 per cent after Prime Minister Julia Gillard warned "urgent and grave" decisions were needed to cope with a $12 billion hit to tax revenue.

The Daily Telegraph understands while the higher Medicare levy would be presented as a reasonable form of "insurance" to protect families from the huge costs of coping with a disability, no final decision has been made whether to include it in the May 14 budget.

Ms Gillard will face attacks that it is another broken promise after she last year ruled out increasing the Medicare levy to pay for DisabilityCare

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/medicare-levy-hike-to-pay-for-the-national-disability-insurance-scheme/story-e6freuy9-1226631862091

[cherry*135]

Is it correct that the NDIS scheme doesn't start until 2018?  IF so goodness knows what will happen by current and future Govts to the scheme before then.

[cherry*135]

OK, I see they have a first stage of the scheme in one particular area (NSW) starting in 2013. But - However, the information we gain from the first stage will inform how we proceed to a full scheme in the rest of NSW by July 2018.

[newstart2380]

1.5 + .5 =2  there. finished .:-)

Allow me to try to explain

For those who are paying the levy it is 1.5% at present which is 3 x 0.5%, correct ?

It will be increased by 0.5% which is 1/3 of the 1.5% making it a full 2%.

So you have added another 1/3 or 33.3% to the cost for each person who contributes, simple maths.

[cherry*135]

Allow me to try to explain

For those who are paying the levy it is 1.5% at present which is 3 x 0.5%, correct ?

It will be increased by 0.5% which is 1/3 of the 1.5% making it a full 2%.

So you have added another 1/3 or 33.3% to the cost for each person who contributes, simple maths.

The point of doing that is? The dollar amount is the same, the increase is 1/2%.

[newstart2380]

The point of doing that is? The dollar amount is the same, the increase is 1/2%.

No, 1/2% of 1.5% is 0.75% not 0.5% so the actual increase is 1/3 or 33.3%.

[cherry*135]

Currently 1.5% with an increase of 1/2%. Proposed new levy will be 2%.

Why bother with the 1/3 or 33.3%? Is this some Liberal way of trying to portray Labor is fleecing the people?

[cherry*135]

So this is where that originated from? Clutching at straws imo.

JULIA, HOW COULD YOU?

L. Pickering

In a breathtaking performance, and near to hyperventilation, she challenged Abbott to support her “half a percent” rise in the Medicare levy.

[Just a couple of notes on this “half a percent” business. First, there is no such thing as “half a percent” because there is no such thing as “a percent”. It is either half of one percent or 0.5 of one percent. But that goes to Gillard’s well-documented illiteracy.

[Second, it is not a half of one percent rise in the Medicare levy at all. It is a 33% rise! From 1.5% to 2%. But that goes to Gillard’s well-documented spin.]

[crystal**flake]

I dont think its fair that hubby and I have to pay more for everyone, literally for everyone.

We get NOTHING.

[cherry*135]

You and your hubby pay more for everyone?  All 19m people in Australia?

[the_great_she_elephant]

And thirdly, Abbott has just said he'll support it.