NATIONAL INSURANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1938, Page 8

NATIONAL INSURANCE

AUSTRALIAN SCHEME

EARLY BILL PROMISED

"' tFrom "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, January 28.

Mr. V. C. Thompson, the Minister assisting the Federal Treasurer, Mr. Casey, stated this week that the machinery for the operation of the national insurance scheme, details ,of which were published in August of last year, was almost complete. The Federal Government, he said, wanted to mark the year of Australia's 150th anniversary by the' introduction of the scheme, which should prove to be the most outstanding piece of legislation on the statute-book.- The Bill was in' the course of preparation, and would be introduced during the next session of the Federal • Parliament. In accordance with the recommendations made by Sir Walter Kinnear jn his report last year to the: Federal Government on health and insurance schemes, the scheme will provide for weekly contributions of 3s for men and 2s for women, the employer contributing half of the sum' in each instance, he said. Benefits would include free medical attention and treatment, sickness benefits of 20s a week for men and 15s a week for women, with an allowance of 3s 6d a week for each dependent child under the age of 16 years, and a disablement benefit of 15s a week for,men and 12s 6d a w.eek for women, with 3s 6d a week for each dependent child under the age of 16 years. A benefit of 20s a week for' men and women would also be provided; ■ ■' ; ■ * ' Mr. Thompson said that. those persons at present .receiving benefits under the, non-contributory old age pensions scheme would not be adversely affected. ■ ; Mr. Thompson added that there would be provision for voluntary con : tributors under certain conditions, In this way national ■insurance'would provide some security against sickness, accident, permanent disability, and old age for all but a very small percentage. There would ba approximately 2,000,000 people over 16 enrolled immediately the legislation was operative comprising 90 per cent, of wageearners. Income limit would be fixed at £365 a year (£7 a week), for compulsorily insured persons. . The Commonwealth Government, Mr Thompson said, would have, to provide £900,000 a year subsidy to the health scheme fo.r'3s years to liquidate the deficits shown at the beginning For the first* five years, £1,000,000 would have to go to pensions, increasing thereafter by £500,000 a year until a maximum of £10,000,000 a year was reached in 1960, at which date the grant would be stabilised. It was intended, to work the schemes in full co-operation with existing voluntary organisations, the medical profession, and chemists. "So far as the Government is aware," he added, "these bodies are in full Sympathy with national insurance, and are anxious to assist the Government." Last week, Mr. C. , Lindsay, a British health insurance expert, arrived in Sydney to assist the Federal officers engaged in the work, and Sir "Walter Kinnear will return to Australia early next month to complete his share of the preparations.