The GP Tax is unfair, regressive and bad health policy. Taxing sick Australians will only prevent them seeing a doctor, leading to more serious and expensive health problems.
This is why Labor rejects outright the Abbott Government’s GP Tax. No amount of fiddling can fix this rotten tax. It must be axed.
It is bad for patients, bad for health care, bad for the long term health of the Budget, and disastrous for the finances of GPs and medical practices.
What’s become very clear over the past year is the Abbott government listens to no one.
Tony Abbott and his ministers didn’t listen to anyone on health before the Budget and they’re not listening to anyone now telling them how bad this tax is.
Families, low income earners, people with chronic disease and all those Australians who rely on bulk billing must also be spared this deeply unfair, regressive and outrageous attack on decent, affordable health care.
The GP Tax must be axed now, for everyone, to ensure Medicare is for all Australians.