p>Health Department figures have revealed the double hit to sick Australians from the Abbott Government’s GP Tax and PBS price hikes.
,^^^,
Health Department figures have revealed the double hit to sick Australians from the Abbott Government’s GP Tax and PBS price hikes.
Analysis by the Federal Opposition reveals sick Australians will be hundreds of dollars out of pocket as they are hit for every visit to a GP, and every medicine they are prescribed.
Obtained through Senate Estimates, the figures show that combined, the cost will be a $4.8 billion hit to family budgets over the next four years.
The data shows the worst hit electorate is Blaxland in Sydney, where the combined hit of the GP Tax and PBS price hikes will cost every resident an average of $300 in extra health costs.
Residents in Lalor in Melbourne’s West will be forking out a record $52 million on Tony Abbott’s new GP Tax and medicine price hikes.
“This just highlights Tony Abbott’s deceit when he promised no cuts to health and no new taxes at the 2013 election,” Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said today.
“Now we know how badly this deceit will hit families when they are forced to pay the $7 GP Tax every time they visit the doctor, and pay another $5 for every medicine they are prescribed.”
“We’ve already seen evidence pensioners and others struggling to make ends meet will be forced to choose between paying for food, heating or their health as a result of these cruel and unfair taxes.”
“The double hit of paying extra for the doctor, and extra for medicines will break the budgets of many struggling families.”
“Sick Australians cannot afford to pay for this Prime Minister’s broken promises.”
“The GP Tax and medicine price hikes must be scrapped.”
The analysis of Medicare and PBS data provided by the Department of Health to Senate Estimates, together with ABS data shows the combined impact, for each federal electorate, of the Abbott Government’s new GP tax, the increased PBS co-payment and the higher safety net thresholds.
STATE TOTAL COST
Australian Capital Territory
$60,501,335
New South Wales
$1,649,176,653
Northern Territory
$27,916,147
Queensland
$952,779,395
South Australia
$363,428,205
Tasmania
$107,444,457
Victoria
$1,237,870,997
Western Australia
$428,778,080