p align=”justify”>Secret Treasury documents released under Freedom of Information show pensioners will be $131.80 worse off every year as a result of the Abbott Government’s new GP Tax and hikes to the pharmaceutical copayment.
,^^^,
Secret Treasury documents released under Freedom of Information show pensioners will be $131.80 worse off every year as a result of the Abbott Government’s new GP Tax and hikes to the pharmaceutical copayment.
This is in addition to cuts to the pension and other measures that will hurt pensioners in Tony Abbott’s unfair Budget.
The cameos kept secret from this year’s Budget documents, reveal pensioners would have to pay $61.80 more in PBS co-payments, as well as $70 for the GP Tax, capped at ten visits a year.
“Labor warned the GP Tax and PBS hikes were deeply unfair and should be scrapped. Now we have the proof Joe Hockey knew this too,” Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King MP said.
“This may not seem a lot of money to Joe Hockey, but for pensioners every dollar counts and this is a very big hit to their standard of living.”
“This backs up evidence to the Senate out of pocket expenses inquiry that the Budget would force many pensioners to choose between food, heating and their health.”
“When in Government, Labor delivered pension increases of more than $200 per fortnight. Under the Abbott Government, the living standards of pensioners are going backwards.”
The Treasury documents can be found at http://www.treasury.gov.au/Access-to-Information/DisclosureLog/2014/1505