Peter Dutton has tonight belled the cat on the Abbott Government’s secret plans to destroy universal healthcare in Australia.
On 7:30 tonight, Mr Dutton was more than happy to confirm he wants Australians to pay more to see their doctor:
REPORTER: Does that include increasing the cost of healthcare for those who can afford to pay more?
DUTTON: Well I think it does.
7.30 – 19 February 2014
“The Liberal Party has never believed in Medicare and they have never believed in a universal healthcare system,” Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said.
“Australians who can afford to pay more already do so through a greater contribution to the Medicare Levy.
“What Mr Dutton is really talking about is dismantling our fair and sustainable system in favour of a private health system like that which exists in the United States.”
Mr Dutton also refused to rule out introducing a new GP tax – a Medicare fee that would hit people every time they visit their doctor.
“It’s clear the Government wants to hike up healthcare costs – and a GP tax is now just one part of the equation.
“All Australians should get the healthcare they need – not just the healthcare they can afford.”
Contrary to Peter Dutton’s hysterical claims about spiralling costs, Australia spends 9.1 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product on health, which is comparable to other OECD countries like Canada. In contrast, the United States spends 17 per cent of its GDP on healthcare.
"Privatising Australia’s health system, as Mr Dutton is now suggesting, will lead to higher health costs for every Australian.
“He has already approved the biggest increases to private health insurance premiums in almost a decade, and now he wants Australians to pay even more.
“This is just the latest in the Abbott Government’s campaign to dismantle Medicare.
“Labor will stand up for Medicare and fight to protect the equality of access to healthcare that all Australians deserve.”