I recently met with staff and Doctors from the Nanango Medical Centre to discuss the many issues affecting GP’s and medical centres, especially the threat being imposed by the introduction of the State Labor Government’s new Patient Tax.
The Treasurer’s new tax was dropped on the eve of Christmas without any public consultation or modelling when the Queensland Revenue Office unveiled a new public ruling.
It has re-interpreted the law so that general practice and other health practitioners will now be subject to payroll tax.
This will mean practices will have no choice but to increase the cost of seeing a GP, and could see the end of bulk-billing in Queensland.
Unfortunately the State Government refuses to acknowledge the serious ramifications this change will have for patients and GP practices.
They refuse to acknowledge that GP’s are already being forced to shut their doors, and charge patients more to see their doctor.
I am calling on the State Labor Government to put a stop to the new Patient Tax.
At the very least, they must make an exemption for rural and regional practices, especially the very few that still provide bulk-billing services.
For rural and regional areas that are already feeling the effect of a lack of GP’s, and the further pressure this places on our hospital system, this tax that will have dire consequences for a health system already in crisis.
– Deb Frecklington
MP for Nanango
