Australia's Senate blocks a cut to health insurance rebates for older people

the saving the government expected

3 billion Australian dollars

The bill would have ended the higher private health insurance rebate for Australians 65 and older, saving the budget about 3 billion Australian dollars.

The Greens, the opposition Coalition and crossbench senators voted on Wednesday to strike the bill from the Senate's agenda, and the Greens say they will back it only if pensioners are left out.

We will pass it in a heartbeat. But we will not be joining with Labor to punch down on pensioners in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

— David Shoebridge, Greens leader

What's next

Health Minister Mark Butler called the vote a political stunt and said the government would bring the same bill back to parliament on Thursday.