Malcolm Turnbull is so out of touch, he has exposed his complete ignorance on the impacts of his own cuts to Medicare.
On ABC’s Q&A last night, when asked about the prospect of Australians paying more to see the doctor, he said:
Malcolm Turnbull: But my point is if you are bulk-billed, there is not a co-payment. If you are bulk-billed there’s not a co-payment….
Tony Jones: You’re saying without a co-payment?
Malcolm Turnbull: Exactly, that’s right. When they bulk-bill they don’t charge you a co-payment.
Mr Turnbull doesn’t understand the impact his Medicare cuts will have on Australians.
There is only one consequence of Malcolm Turnbull’s rebate freeze – bulk-billing rates will fall, and doctors will be forced to charge patients up to $20 extra every time they see the doctor.
A survey of over 500 doctors by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has found almost a third of doctors will be forced to abandon bulk-billing as a consequence of the freeze. More than half said they would increase out-of-pocket costs.
How can Mr Turnbull not understand this? How out of touch is he?
Malcolm Turnbull doesn’t understand the effect his own policies will have on Medicare because Medicare isn’t important to him.
There is only one way to protect bulk-billing – stop the cuts to Medicare.
Mr Turnbull can spin it any way he wants. Australians know the Liberals are increasing the cost of going to the doctor – and their ultimate aim is to privatise Medicare.
Nobody wants an American-style health system, but that’s exactly what the Liberals are promising.
Labor believes access to health care should depend on your Medicare card, not your credit card.
Bill Shorten and Labor will protect Medicare.
Save Medicare, vote Labor.