p>The Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King, was in Queensland today with Labor candidate for Griffith, Terri Butler to launch a local campaign to save Medicare.
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The Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King, was in Queensland today with Labor candidate for Griffith, Terri Butler to launch a local campaign to save Medicare.
“I have met a lot of very concerned people, including here today in the electorate of Griffith, who are worried about whether they will be able to afford medical care for their families into the future,” Ms King said.
“The Abbott Government has hit Australians hard with the biggest increase to private health insurance premiums in a decade.
“Once they introduce a tax on every GP visit, the Abbott Government will open the floodgate to annual increases to GP fees, making it tough for families already struggling with the cost of living.
“Next they plan to allow private health insurance to cover GP visits which will put more pressure on family budgets.
"All Australians should get the healthcare they need, not the healthcare they can afford," she said
Labor candidate for Griffith Terri Butler said that for nearly 30 years Medicare has been making healthcare affordable and accessible for every Australian, but that was now under threat.
"Labor is the party of Medicare – it was Labor who raised bulk-billing rates to their highest rates ever,” Ms Butler said.
“People on Brisbane’s Southside are concerned about a proposed tax on GP visits, a tax that has the backing of the LNP’s candidate in Griffith, Dr Bill Glasson.
“Griffith needs a local member who will stand up for Medicare and for affordable healthcare for all Australians,” she said.
Ms King and Ms Butler also met today with the Doctors Reform Society, who are equally worried about the views of Dr Glasson, a former AMA President.
Doctors Reform Society vice-president Dr Tracy Schrader said that “Dr Glasson wants to go back to the pre Medicare system where doctors are concentrated in the more affluent suburbs of our cities and can charge their private patients while the rest of us line up at the casualty or ED”.
Ms King said that Labor will fight for Australia’s Medicare system alongside the community for equitable access to health care for all Australians.
To sign the Griffith petition to save Medicare log on to:
http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/tony-abbott-s-candidate-for-griffith-bill-glasson-don-t-slug-southside-families-with-a-new-tax-to-visit-the-doctor.