SENATE INQUIRY REVEALS TASMANIA TO BE HIT HARDEST BY GP TAX

A Senate inquiry has today confirmed Tasmanians will be hit hardest by the Abbott Government’s $7 GP Tax.

The report of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s inquiry into Out of Pocket Expenses, released today, highlighted the disproportionate impact that the Abbott Government’s GP Tax would have on Tasmania.

Responding to questioning from Tasmanian Labor Senator Catryna Bilyk., Australian Medical Association (AMA), President Brian Owler told the inquiry:

“Tasmania has a higher burden of chronic disease and higher smoking rates, and we need to do more to encourage preventive health care and chronic disease management. That is why I think the co-payment is probably going to affect Tasmanians more than it affects people in other jurisdictions.”
AMA President Brian Owler, July 29, 2014.

Senator Bilyk said the evidence presented by the AMA demonstrated that the Abbott Government’s cruel and unfair GP Tax would widen the gap between the poor health outcomes of Tasmanians and the rest of Australia.

“Without affordable access to primary health care, emergency departments will get more crowded, elective surgery waiting lists will get longer, and health outcomes for Tasmanians are just going to get worse and worse,” Senator Bilyk said.

Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King MP said the report was proof the GP Tax had to be scrapped.

“It’s official Prime Minister – your GP Tax and PBS hikes are a disaster and must be scrapped,” Ms King said.

“The inquiry heard from health experts and professionals about the harm the GP Tax and PBS hikes would cause to patients, GPs and to the long term health budget.

“Instead of containing health costs and making Medicare sustainable, the inquiry heard the GP Tax would actually exacerbate health problems and lead to even greater costs blowouts down the track.”

The inquiry’s report also noted comments from the AMA that there is “no evidence that our healthcare system is unsustainable.”

The Committee recommended that the Government not proceed with further co-payments, and instead should “undertake a comprehensive review of the impact of existing co-payments on individuals’ access to health services and health outcomes” with “particular attention to the impact on the most vulnerable groups in the community.”
THE HON CATHERINE KING MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH MEMBER FOR BALLARAT SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK DEPUTY OPPOSITION WHIP IN THE SENATE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA