Statements
Wilkie to question PM on Medicare rebate freeze
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will ask the Prime Minister the following in Question Time today.
“Prime Minister your personal commitment to health care is compromised by the freeze on the Medicare rebate for a visit to the GP.
“Indeed yours is a regressive policy that burdens the poor because the freeze is driving down bulk-billing rates.
“This is just plain dumb because primary care, at seven per cent of the health budget, is not the cause of health care inflation. It’s actually what helps keep people out of expensive hospitals.
“Tasmania is being slugged especially hard because bulk-billing was down another two per cent there in the last quarter, even though we’re the most disadvantaged and sickest state.
“Prime Minister, please, will you immediately lift the freeze on the Medicare rebate for a visit to a GP?”
Watch here
Andrew Wilkie, Independent MP for Denison