Federal Budget 2017: Medicare levy rise — how much extra you’ll pay

THE average working family on $120,000 a year will lose ­another $600 when the Turnbull Government jacks up the Medicare levy from 2019. See how much you will pay.

Treasurer Scott Morrison during his post-Budget address to the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

• Bank chiefs: You’ll pay for $6b tax hit
• Terry McCrann: Everyone loses with $6b bank tax
• Labor to oppose budget repair levy

THE average working family on $120,000 a year will lose ­another $600 when the Turnbull Government jacks up the Medicare levy from 2019.

As Labor weighs up supporting the tax increase, figures crunched by the Herald Sun show the rise in the levy from 2 to 2.5 per cent will cost a family on $200,000 an extra $1000 a year.

The numbers, which Treasurer Scott Morrison’s office had refused to provide during Tuesday’s Budget lockup, show a low-income worker on $40,000 will pay $1000 under the revised levy, up from $800.

But Mr Morrison argued on Wednesday that Australians had “big hearts” and would support paying the increased levy to provide funding certainty for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

See how much you will pay.

WHAT THE FEDERAL BUDGET MEANS FOR VICTORIA

$14 BILLION WIPED OFF BIG BANKS AS NEW LEVY, FINES ADD TO PAIN

In an emotional speech, Mr Morrison told the story of his brother-in-law, Garry Warren, who has progressive multiple sclerosis and who commutes around Sydney in a wheelchair.

“He said, ‘It’s not flash being disabled, it’s not flash. But if there’s anything good about it ... it’s that you’re disabled in Australia’,” Mr Morrison said.

He said he was proud to tell his brother-in-law that the government would fully fund the NDIS.

“Australians look after their mates. Particularly those who are less fortunate than ourselves. It’s our nature. It’s our values as a country,” he said.

“That’s what fully funding the NDIS is all about. And it’s important that we now end the political debate about how it’s funded.

“That’s what the change is about to the Medicare levy. Reflecting our values, helping our mates, and doing what Australians always do for those in need.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor would “weigh up what we do about the Medicare levy increase”.

But in his Budget reply speech on Thursday night, Mr Shorten is expected to lash Mr Turnbull’s refusal to extend the 2 per cent Budget repair levy after it expires on June 30.

THIS JUST ADDS TO FAMILIES’ BURDEN

CHRISTINA Mammino says Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull needs to “get in touch with reality” if he thinks increasing the Medicare levy on struggling families is fair.

The Cranbourne East mother of five says she can see the benefit of lifting the levy by 0.5 per cent to secure funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“But I don’t agree with it because it’s putting a lot of financial strain on families,” Ms Mammino said. “Politicians need to come and live a normal everyday family’s life.

“They need a wake-up call to see what’s going on around them.”

Christina Mammino and her three boys Josh, 11, Jake, 13, and Jack, 7. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Ms Mammino, who is a personal carer and works with elderly people, said the NDIS needed to be properly backed but questioned whether there was a fairer way for the government to pay for it.

The full funding of the NDIS was welcomed by Cynthia Dirikis, whose 39-year-old daughter, Renea, has autism and relies on it.

But she said the “frustrating” system needed an overhaul.

Rising care costs had meant Renea had been left with just $12 a fortnight for essentials like clothes and medical bills.

[e-mail]

@tminear