The Coalition’s plan to tax Australians for going to the doctor is the latest in a growing list of broken promises by this government.
Mr Abbott is asking Australian families to foot the bill for his broken election promises. Despite promising no new taxes would be introduced, the Coalition now plans to tax families on one of the most critical areas of need for all Australians.
“The Prime Minister needs to rule out any new fee immediately,” Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said.
“Australians should not be provided with a disincentive to visit their doctor. Families shouldn’t have to pay the Prime Minister a new tax every time their child is sick.
“I am concerned about what additional pressure the introduction of this new ‘GP tax’ will have on an already struggling public hospital system, and what it will mean for families already struggling with cost of living pressures.”
Fees were introduced in 1991 but lasted not more than three months. The Prime Minister should guarantee today that his government will not break yet another promise and introduce this new tax.
This comes just days after the Coalition approved one of the highest increases to private health insurance premiums in almost a decade.
“This is yet another nasty New Years surprise from a government that promised no surprises and no excuses,” Ms King said.
“First the Prime Minister makes it harder for people to access private health insurance. Now he is making it harder for families to see their doctor when they need to.
“Australian families shouldn’t have to keep footing the bill for the Pime Minister’s broken promises. This is not the government they told the Australian people would be.”
Labor is the party that established Medicare as a universal healthcare system and has a long-held position of the best care being available to all. This is a cynical cash grab by this government and proof once again the Prime Minister is not the one he promised he would be before the election.