Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller has today demanded the Premier intervene in his Federal colleague’s disastrous plan to introduce an additional tax on GP visits which will see demand on Emergency Departments skyrocket.
Mrs Miller said the Abbott Government had today foreshadowed the $6 co-payment for bulk-billed visits to GPs which will see the average Queenslander slugged more than $70 a year for merely seeking medical treatment from their local doctor.
“For more than two years now Campbell Newman and the Health Minister Lawrence Springborg have ruthlessly attacked our public health system and now they will stand by while their mates in Canberra launch a further attack,” Mrs Miller said.
“This Tony Abbott GP tax on everyone for simply visiting the local doctor not only targets families already struggling with the cost of living, it attacks our Emergency Departments.
“It will force low income families away from their local GP and into already clogged-up Emergency Departments.
“What additional costs will Queenslanders face under the Newman Government’s Americanised hospital system once services are sold off to private providers?
“Has Campbell Newman discussed this with Tony Abbott?
“What plans does he have to combat the influx of patients into hospital EDs?
“Will he stand up for Queenslanders and publicly tell Tony Abbott he is rejecting this tax?”
Mrs Miller also called on the Premier to intervene in the Federal Government’s plan to close down Medicare Locals.
“It’s no secret that the Abbott Government plans to scrap the local health bodies in the pending budget.
“This program is barely two years old and is showing results but the Newman and Abbott Government are determined that our public health system will be more difficult to access and they are determined that the 3,000 people employed by Medicare Locals will be the latest health workers in Queensland to lose their jobs.”
Source: annastaciapalaszczukmp.com.au