CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MEDICARE
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT
HANNAH BEAZLEY
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR SWAN
TURNBULL AND IRONS HURTING HEALTH IN SWAN
People in Swan are struggling to afford basic health care, with Malcolm Turnbull and Steve Irons’ Medicare freeze driving out-of-pocket costs up and forcing thousands of locals to skip care.
Shadow Health Minister Catherine King and Labor Candidate for Swan Hannah Beazley visited Park Medical Group in East Victoria Park today to hear firsthand about the impact of the Liberals’ cuts to Medicare.
Official data shows that people in Swan now pay an average out-of-pocket fee of $37 to see a GP and $77 to see a specialist. These are average figures, and many patients pay much more.
Turnbull went to the last election promising no one would pay more to see a doctor – but these figures show that people in Swan are paying more than ever.
As a result of these fees, official Bureau of Statistics figures show that almost 7,000 people in Swan delay or avoid seeing their GP each year due to cost. Another 12,000 locals are forced to skip specialist care.
Yet the Liberals claim that “Medicare has never been stronger”.
In fact, Turnbull and Irons are so out-of-touch that they are yet to lift any part of their Medicare freeze. Rebates for GPs, specialists and allied health services all remain frozen, and the freeze won’t be fully lifted until 2020.
As a result of this freeze, Turnbull and Irons are cutting $2.2 billion out of Medicare over the next four years – on top of the savings they have already banked.
Whether it’s making Medicare more expensive, cutting public hospitals or putting health insurance profits before patients – the Liberals can never be trusted on health.
Only Labor created Medicare, and only Labor will ensure that people in Swan can access the health care they deserve.
MONDAY, 19 MARCH 2018