An extra 50,000 older Australians will get access to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card if the Morrison government is re-elected.
A day after Labor leader Anthony Albanese accused him of neglecting older Australians, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to announce an increase in the singles income test threshold from $57,761 to around $90,000 from 1 July this year to broaden access to the concession card.
The couples threshold will also increase from $92,416 to $144,000.
At the commonwealth level, all cardholders are eligible for cheaper medications and health care, and may also be entitled to state, territory and local government savings like discounted rates, electricity and gas bills, ambulance, dental, eye care, recreation and public transport.
The $70 million expansion is part of the coalition's plan to deliver affordable and practical cost of living relief, Mr Morrison said.
"This means more senior Australians could save hundreds of dollars, including up to $428 a year for access to a monthly script for vital medicines and a refund for medical costs if you reach the Medicare safety net," he said.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the commitment would build on the $525 million plan to reduce the safety net threshold for PBS medications, including a cut in the price of medications by $10 per script from January 1 next year.
At the Labor launch in Perth on Sunday, Mr Albanese revealed his medicines price cut would be $12.50.
He said the PBS was "another of the great Australian institutions established by Labor" and proof of his party's commitment to universal health care.
With the election campaign hitting the halfway point, Labor is hoping its A Better Future-themed campaign launch on Sunday will provide some momentum after Mr Albanese spent a week in COVID-19 isolation.
The launch included new policies on first home purchasing, manufacturing and electric vehicles, as well as dealing with the issue of gender pay equity and fixing problems in aged care and child care.
Mr Albanese is expected to campaign in Queensland, where Labor holds only six of 30 seats and will need to make gains if it is to win the election.
He told the campaign launch a Labor government would invest $1 billion in developing value-added products from minerals like lithium and nickel.
The coalition has been campaigning in Queensland on division within Labor over the future of the resources sector, especially coal mining jobs, which cost the party votes in 2019.
"We know Labor is dominated by its green-left faction and is deeply divided over the future of Australia's resources sector," Resources Minister Keith Pitt said.
The second of the leaders' debates will be hosted by the Nine Network this Sunday night with the Liberal campaign widely expected to be launched a week later.
Early voting starts on 9 May.
