If Minister Hunt hadnt had enough warning signs from consumers, experts and industry already, data released this week by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and a report released today from AlphaBeta have highlighted the need for urgent attention to the health sector.

Both sets of data shows that private health insurance premiums are rising faster than wages and that fewer people are taking out private health insurance.

This is while record high out of pocket health costs and waiting times continue to rise under this Government.

Six weeks agoGreg Hunt said his plan to tackle the issues within private health was working. Two weeks laterthe Minister announced that he had a plan to review the problems with private health. Another month later and we are yet to see any details.

Yesterday he returned to the same old line that the Governments approach is already working. Minister Hunt has his head in the sand, ignoring the issues in Australias private health system.

The people of Australia deserve better than a Government that sits on its hands when it comes to doing difficult problems.

Labor took to the election a policy to implement a Productivity Commission inquiry into private health in Australia because we know that if out of pocket costs are at record highs, waiting lists are at record highs and people are walking away from private health insurance, then a root and branch review of the system is needed urgently.

Minister Hunt must come forward and address what he is doing about private health insurance and how he plans to tackle record high wait lists and health costs.