p>
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King today criticised the decision of the Abbott Government to end Saturday opening hours at the Ballarat Medicare Office from 3 May 2014.
,^^^,
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King today criticised the decision of the Abbott Government to end Saturday opening hours at the Ballarat Medicare Office from 3 May 2014.
“The local Medicare office currently delivers a Saturday morning service in Ballarat providing people with face-to-face support and assistance to process their claims,” Ms King said.
“For people in our community who lead busy lives and those that commute long distances for work, the Saturday shopfront service in Ballarat gives people the flexibility to access Medicare services in their own time.
“By closing the Saturday service, Mr Abbott is contradicting his previous support to provide convenience and flexibility for local families.”
In 2004 as Health Minister, Tony Abbott announced Saturday opening hours at 114 Medicare offices in metropolitan areas and major regional centres:
"If you’re going to deliver the best possible service you’ve got to have longer opening hours."
TONY ABBOTT – THE AGE 9 JULY 2004
But today, The Minister for Human Services in the Abbott Government, the Hon Marise Payne has announced that Saturday Medicare shopfront services will be phased out across the country.
“This latest attack on Medicare by the Abbott Government follows plans to introduce a GP tax that will end bulk billing and make it more difficult for millions of Australians to get access to a doctor,” Ms King said.
“In its first six months, the Abbott Government has a disappointing record of presiding over a constant reduction of important local services in our community.”