GOVERNMENT VOTES AGAINST STANDING UP FOR MEDICARE AND HOSPITALS
The Turnbull Government has voted against dropping their Medicare freeze immediately and properly funding public hospitals, continuing their out-of-touch and damaging approach to health.
Yesterday the Senate passed a Labor motion noting the Government’s freeze is doing $2.2 billion in damage to Medicare, and condemning the Government for neglecting Medicare in rural and regional Australia.
The Government voted against immediate and annual indexation of Medicare rebates that have been frozen by them.
The Government voted against proper investment in public hospitals.
The Government voted against guaranteeing that savings from the MBS Review will be reinvested in Medicare – and not used as a further excuse for more cuts.
Disappointingly, all four Nationals Senators voted against the motion – despite the fact that people living in regional Australian are around 20 per cent more likely to skip or delay seeing a GP because of cost. The Liberals and Nationals are in a coalition of cutting Medicare and failing to stand up for the health of Australians.
Turnbull only pays lip service to caring about health – today’s vote is further proof of this.
The fact is that the Government is yet to lift any part of their Medicare freeze – rebates for GPs, specialists and allied health services all remain frozen. Their freeze is a cut to the pockets of patients every time they access health care.
Australians know Turnbull can’t be trusted on health.