It’s 12 months today since Tony Abbott’s big lie on health.
Exactly one year ago today Tony Abbott stared down the barrel of the TV cameras and solemnly promised all Australians:
“We are not in the business of cutting health.
“No cuts to health, no cuts to education, no cuts to pensions, no changes to the GST.
“Let me say it again – no cuts to health. No cuts to health.”
Tony Abbott, Melbourne Press Conference, August 30 2013
One week later Mr Abbott was elected Prime Minister on the back of this solemn promise, and promptly began showing Australians his word counted for nothing.
In the following months Mr Abbott:
- Tore up Labor’s historic health and hospitals agreement with states, slashing more than $50 billion out of public hospitals.
- Slapped a $7 GP Tax on every visit to the doctor, every pathology test, every MRI, a $3.5 billion tax hike on health.
- Hiked the price of essential medicines by $5 a script, and 80 cents for concession card holders, another $1.3 billion health hike.
- Cut $367 million out of preventative health programs.
Tony Abbott knew he could not be elected if he was up front with Australians about his promises to gut hospitals, smash Medicare and hike taxes.
Instead he lied to try to convince Australians to vote for him.
Only Labor will keep Tony Abbott to his election promise by fighting ever day to Save Medicare, and reject his $7GP Tax and medicine price hike.