Rape row minister extends sick leave

UNDER-pressure Defence Minister Linda Reynolds won’t be back at work for almost a month after medical advice to extend her sick leave, sparking questions over her long-term political future.

Senator Reynolds (left) has been under intense scrutiny over her handling of the alleged rape of her former staffer Brittany Higgins in her office.

Calls for her to step down have intensified after she apologised last week for calling Ms Higgins a “lying cow” when the case became public.

Senator Reynolds had been due to return to work on Monday after leave due to a pre-existing heart condition, but her absence has been extended to April 2.

The extra leave is likely to see her avoid expected intense questioning at Senate Estimates at the end of March.

Ms Higgins last month alleged she was raped by a colleague on a couch in the thendefence industry minister’s office and claimed she was made to feel her situation was a “political” problem.

Senator Reynolds checked herself into a Canberra hospital on February 24.

Canberra has been under a cloud for almost a month, with historical rape claims against Attorney-General Christian Porter emerging shortly after Ms Higgins went public. Mr Porter, who denies the claims, has taken mental health leave.

Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins will this week begin an independent inquiry into the culture of Parliament House.

On Sunday, she revealed victims of bullying, sexual harassment and assault could expect a new confidential process for hearing complaints.

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PRIVATE health insurers are set to bump up premiums in the next month, the second time in six months that members have been slugged with higher fees.

On April 1, Australia’s healthcare sector is set to roll out premium rises that will make the cost of holding private hospital cover more expensive.

The industry traditionally increases prices annually, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, last year’s April rise was delayed to October.

Insurers claim the rise in the price of benefits is due to inflation and the increased costs of providing healthcare.

The rise is despite the Reserve Bank of Australia flagging inflation to remain below its target level of

2-3 per cent and wages growth to remain flat for the next few years.

Canstar financial executive Steve Mickenbecker said the average increase over the six months to April from both rises was 5.66 per cent and would be a sting to many policyholders, but not enough to deter them from renewing.

“In April, the spread of increases that will come into effect from the insurers range from a low of 0.50 per cent to 5.47 per cent at the top, and underlines just how important it is for people to compare policies and find as low a premium as they can for the level of health cover they need,” he said.

Latest quarterly figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) show the number of new customers to the private health sector rose 100,000 year-on-year.

According to Canstar, hospital cover for singles after April 1 on average will rise by $53 and family plans will jump by approximately $107.

Private healthcare tends to skew towards older customers.