Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that he is continuing with every one of his cuts to Medicare.
In Question Time today, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asked the Prime Minister which of his health cuts he had reversed in the two months since the election.
This followed Mr Turnbull’s claim that he had learned the lesson of the election and would reassure Australians about his commitment to health.
In his bizarre rant the Prime Minister could not point to a single health cut that he would reverse.
Mr Turnbull’s confirmation that he is proceeding with every one of his cuts to Medicare shows that he has not learned the lesson of the election.
Now that he has scraped back into Government, the Prime Minister remains committed to:
- His freeze on Medicare rebates, a GP Tax by stealth;
- Cutting Medicare bulk billing incentives for vital blood tests and imaging scans;
- Increasing the price of prescription medicines by up to $5, even for concession card holders; and
- Cutting hundreds of millions from Medicare via changes to the Medicare Safety Net.
Bizarre attacks on Labor won’t change the harsh reality of these cuts. Mr Turnbull’s “reassurance” is worth as much as Tony Abbott’s promise of “no cuts to health” – nothing.
In contrast, during the election campaign Labor committed to ending Mr Turnbull’s Medicare freeze, scrapping his cuts to vital tests and scans, reversing his price hikes to Medicines, and protecting the Medicare Safety Nets.
Labor created Medicare, and as the Prime Minister’s answer today confirms, only Labor will protect it.
WEDNESDAY, 31 AUGUST 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: ANDREW GARRETT 0412 300 994