Today health care professionals and residents across Tasmania are marking the anniversary of the introduction of Medicare – an occasion which changed the nature of health care in this country.
33 years ago Medicare commenced under the Labor Hawke Government, ensuring that every Australian could access quality health care no matter their circumstances.
Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader for Tasmania, Senator Helen Polley said that today is important because of what Medicare means to Tasmania.
“Medicare is so important to Tasmanian’s because we unfortunately lead the way in chronic illnesses when compared to other states.”
“Today is also a reminder of the need to ensure that access to health care is determined by an individual’s Medicare card – not their ability to pay,” Senator Polley said.
“Medicare was designed to ensure people can access life-saving treatment when they need it, but this is under threat.
“Under the Turnbull Government the cost of visiting a general practitioner is now at its highest ever, increasing 7.1 per cent from 2014-15 to 2015-16, and we know that in the last year 27 per cent of Australians reported delaying seeing a GP at least once in the past year, due to cost.”
Senator Polley said that her office has been contacted by countless members of the community who have said that without Medicare, they face substantial out of pocket costs or have to skip treatment altogether.
“Last year around 21 million Australians accessed Medicare services – including GP visits, vital tests and scans, and hospital treatments – but thanks to Malcolm Turnbull’s attack on Medicare this is dropping.”
“I am proud of Labor’s history in introducing Medicare and will always fight to protect Medicare,” Senator Polley said.
“We don’t want our health care system to go down the path of America’s, where an individual’s capacity to pay determines whether they get the treatment they need.
“Today Malcolm Turnbull can give Medicare the best birthday present by dropping his savage cuts to health which will see bulk billing drop, every Australian pay more and Medicare undermined.”
SENATOR HELEN POLLEY SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE LEADER (TASMANIA) SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR AGEING SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
