Health Minister Sussan Ley should use her visit to Western Sydney today to explain why she thinks families in Concord, Parramatta, Penrith, Blacktown and Mount Druitt should bear the brunt of her Government’s GP Tax.
Eleven of the top 12 electorates Australia-wide that will be hardest hit by her Government’s GP Tax are in Western Sydney.
Western Sydney has higher rates of chronic illnesses like diabetes, requiring residents to make much greater use of health services.
The GP Tax will take millions of dollars out of the pockets of Western Sydney families and drive patients into already overcrowded Emergency Departments.
Yet, at the same time, hospitals in the region are being hit by the $57 billion being ripped out of public hospitals by the Liberal Government.
It’s bad for patients, bad for healthcare and bad for the Budget.
Despite this, the Minister ridiculously continues to insist the GP Tax must be part of any compromise on the GP Tax.
The Minister insists she is “listening” but as the growing backbench revolt confirms, she refuses to hear the one thing all the health groups agree on – the GP Tax must go.
Last week, Tony Abbott promised good government but all we see is division and dysfunction and we still have the GP Tax.