Treasurer Joe Hockey must immediately rule out any move to repeat the dishonest and deceitful means he used to hike fuel prices by introducing the GP Tax via the back door.
Earlier this month Joe Hockey refused to rule out introducing the GP Tax via regulation.
Fran Kelly: Are you planning to do that, to introduce it without legislation?
Hockey: I am not speculating on what the outcome is.
ABC Radio National – 13 November 2014
I have now written to the Treasurer seeking his assurance the Government will not attempt any change to the way GP services are funded without the passage of legislation.
Unfortunately, the signs are not good. Earlier this month the Department of Human Services (DHS) instructed software vendors to change their practice management programs to accommodate the $7 GP Tax and 10 visit cap on concessional patients.
This is despite the fact legislation to introduce the GP Tax is yet to be introduced into Parliament.
Health Minister Peter Dutton also refused repeated requests to rule out cuts to Medicare rebates via regulation if he is unable to force his GP Tax through Parliament.
The fact the Abbott Government is even considering such a move highlights the deceit and dishonesty at the heart of this arrogant and out of touch government.
Tony Abbott lied about the GP Tax before the election, and now faced with the overwhelming rejection of the Australian people and the Australian Parliament, is considering introducing the GP Tax by stealth, just as he did with the Fuel Tax.
This is a government that refuses to listen to all the evidence from health experts and professionals, and instead ploughs ahead with its bid to wreck Medicare in defiance of the parliament and the people.
Instead of trying to sneak its GP Tax in via the backdoor, the Abbott Government should listen to what Labor, experts and health professionals have been telling it since day one and scrap its disastrous GP Tax.