As Medicare celebrates its 30th birthday next month, local Federal Members Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones warn the affordable and accessible health care could now be under threat from the Abbott Government.
We want to make sure that Medicare survives to see a 35th anniversary and that the historic Labor initiative is not abolished by stealth, the MPs said.
Sign the petition to Save Medicare
Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones are encouraging people in the Illawarra to sign Labors Medicare petition, opposing the Abbott Governments plan for patients to pay an upfront fee to see a doctor.
Many families are very concerned that the Government is planning to put a tax on going to the doctor. It is important that all Australians can get the treatment they need, when they need it, Sharon Bird said.
Once the GP tax is introduced, we are concerned that this will open the floodgate for the Abbott Government to make increases annually, making it tough for families already struggling with the cost of living.
The Abbott Government has already hit Australians hard, with the biggest increase to private health insurance premiums in a decade.
Laboris proud to be the party of Medicare it wasLabor who raisedbulk-billing rates to their highest rates ever and it is Labor who will continue to protect Australias universal healthcare system, Stephen Jones said.
I believe that all Australians deserve the healthcare they need, not the care they can afford.
To sign the petition, or for more information visit the websites:
Sharon Bird:www.sharonbird.com.au
Stephen Jones:www.stephenjones.org.au
