The Australian Greens have today criticised the Abbott Government for allowing out-of-pocket healthcare costs to rise in order to save the budget $664 million.

It was reported today that the Federal Government will not stop the previous government’s freeze on Medicare rebate indexations, which could see the cost of a GP visit rise by up to $2 and a drop in the number of bulk-billing GPs.

Recognising the importance of palliative care, the Australian Greens have announced a new initiative to help ensure people's care choices can be respected and their pain and suffering minimised.

"Discussions about palliative care can be very difficult and challenging, but if we avoid it, family and friends may not know enough about our wishes to ensure we get the care we want," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on ageing said today.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens disability spokesperson has today joined with members of the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre to launch their new cochlear implant training module, which will boost remote hearing health services.

"This is an amazing project that promises to help many Australians living in rural, regional and remote parts of the country. I am so pleased that such an important announcement is coming during Hearing Awareness Week," Senator Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens have today announced a broad new initiative to improve support for the growing number of people with hearing loss.

"One in six Australians suffers from some degree of hearing loss, and this number is expected to increase to one in four by 2050," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on disabilities said today.

Rates of ear disease and hearing loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are up to ten times national averages. Otitis media (middle ear disease) hurts children in these communities more than anyone else.

That's why the Greens are announcing our $47 million Caring for Aboriginal Hearing policy to close the gap in hearing health, as part of our comprehensive hearing health plan.

1 in 6 Australians suffer from some degree of hearing loss, expected to increase to 1 in 4 by 2050. Hearing loss hurts people in education, employment and social situations, and costs Australia almost $12 billion a year.

A Parliamentary inquiry found in 2009 that hearing health was not a national priority. The Greens want to change that. That's why we're announcing our $368.2 million hearing health plan, to put it on the agenda this Hearing Awareness Week.

Senator SIEWERT (Western Australia—Australian Greens Whip) (17:42): I present the report of the Community Affairs References Committee on palliative care in Australia, together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to the committee. 

Senator SIEWERT: I move: That the Senate take note of the report. 

The Australian Greens are calling on the Government to reassess the latest version of the NT Intervention, Stronger Futures, with evaluations conducted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations showing key aspects of the policy are ineffective.

As it introduces new intervention measures in the Northern Territory, the Government is keen to talk about the effectiveness of existing policies in tackling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage.

Reports with glossy pages and matching colour schemes cannot hide the reality that the programs they discuss are costly, ineffective and are not based on sound evidence.