The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has joined Labor in calling for the GP Tax to be scrapped, after one of the government’s own agencies destroyed its claim health funding is unsustainable.
Contrary to the Abbott Government’s repeated claims health spending is out of control, The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report finds growth in health funding is at the lowest level in decades.
Health expenditure Australia 2012–13, shows total spending on health goods and services in Australia was just 1.5% higher than in 2011–12.
AMA President Brian Owler says the report confirms Australia does not need a GP Tax.
“That makes a mockery of the fact that the Government has been claiming health care expenditure is out of control.
“The Government has used this as a narrative in terms of the lead-up to its Federal Budget, saying health care expenditure is out of control. It has used it to justify the introduction of the GP co-payment. There is no justification for a GP co-payment.”
AMA President Brian Owler, 23/09/2014
Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King says the report is the final nail in the coffin for the GP Tax.
“It’s now time for Tony Abbott to accept the evidence and listen to the health professionals and scrap his GP Tax,” Ms King said.
“The AIHW report shows Labor, in Government, kept health spending under control, without attacking the sick or the poor.
“Tony Abbott lied to Australians about his plans for a GP Tax, now this report shows he’s lying to them about the need for a GP Tax.
“The experts all agree, and the evidence is now in: the GP Tax is bad for patients, bad for health care and bad for the Budget and must now be scrapped.”