Liberal and Nationals MPs tonight voted to increase the cost of medicines by more than $1.3 billion.
Too gutless to speak out against this unfair Bill, MPs from communities with some of the highest rates of unemployment in Australia, representing electorates like Braddon, Lyons, Solomon, Banks and Lindsay voted in support of this $1.3 billion price hike.
In total only six of Abbott’s MPs were prepared to speak during the debate on this Bill.
The Bill increases the cost of medicines by more than 13 per cent for pensioners and healthcare cards as well as makes the safety net much less fair. Every year until 2017/18 the safety net will increase by two prescriptions per year, reaching 68 by July 2018.
For non-concessional patients the price per prescription will rise to $42.70 for every prescription. In addition to this the safety net will rise by 10 per cent plus CPI every year, not only making medicines more expensive but with a safety net that is further and further away.
Australia’s most ineffective Health Minister refused to even attend the Consideration in Detail phase of the debate and refused to answer a single question on what the impact will be on Indigenous communities, pensioners or Australians with a healthcare card.
Tony Abbott lied his way into government and now, if passed by the Senate, Australians will be paying an additional $1.3 billion for medicine.
When it comes to healthcare, Australians are being let down by the most uncompassionate government since Federation, led by the most ineffective health minister Australia has ever had.