Nine months after the election and the Liberals still haven’t learnt their lesson – Australians rejected their health policies at the election for no other reason than because they are bad policies.
While the Turnbull Government has been chucking a dummy spit, Australians have been paying more – paying out of their wallets, and paying with their health.
Out of pocket costs have never been higher, bulk billing for GPs has dropped since the election and elective surgery waiting times have blown out.
Millions of Australians rejected this Government’s unfair health policy at the last election and they haven’t dropped a single one:
- The six-year Medicare freeze, which is already having an impact on bulk billing rates and will drive up out-of-pocket costs;
- Cuts to pathology and bulk billing which will make it more expensive to have vital tests and life-saving scans;
- A plan to hike up the cost of essential medicines by up to $5;
- Savage cuts to the Medicare safety nets – meaning Australians will be more out of pocket and receive less support.
The Prime Minister said he had “learnt his lesson” but he hasn’t changed a thing. GPs and patients have been bearing the brunt of their unfair health choices for years and the Turnbull Government hasn’t batted an eyelid.
This Government needs to stop whinging and start acting on every single one of their cuts to health.
SATURDAY, 8 APRIL 2017