Is a $7 worth the political pain?: Prime Minister Tony Abbott acknowledges the unpopularity of the GP measure. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
A quartet of aged care residents sought the assistance of their local member last week. Clive Palmer had never met the women, who told him they had been lifelong Liberal-Nationals voters. No longer.
Their nursing home’s practice of withholding their aged pension cheques, while handing back a modest $15 each for minor luxuries such as chocolates, is set to end. But not in a good way.
Due to the forthcoming GP ‘‘co-payment’’, they were reportedly advised, the remaining $15 would also be withheld to offset expected GP costs.
On Wednesday night Tony Abbott acknowledged the obvious unpopularity of the GP measure, describing it as ‘‘perhaps the most difficult policy change in this budget’’.