New Reports today that next week’s budget will include a $7.50 tax on doctor visits will hurt the family budget, forever damage Australia’s heath system and lead to worse health outcomes.
“When going to the doctor Australians should be able to rely on their Medicare card, not their credit card,” said Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King.
“A tax of $7.50 will dissuade unwell Australians from seeing their doctor and potentially ending up much sicker, ultimately costing the health system a lot more.”
“Despite warnings from every informed stakeholder in the health sector, Tony Abbott is determined to introduce a tax that will spell the end of Medicare.”
The report by the Abbott Government’s Commission of Audit is a blueprint for a less fair Australia that would render Medicare a residual system, not the universal system it is today.
Australians are right to be sceptical about the Government’s long-term intentions to introduce more of the Commissions changes after such a clear breach of faith.
The Government has not relied on any informed economic analysis of what this policy will mean for the health system before proceeding with it.
“This is lazy policy based on ideology, not informed by any evidence whatsoever and it will cost our health system and families more.”
“It is the first step in a concerted campaign to destroy Medicare, creating a user-pays American style health system.”
This new tax will put unnecessary pressure on Australia’s hospitals and the proposal for another new tax on hospital visits should be opposed by state and territory governments across the country.