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New Health Tax from Andrews Labor government will lead to higher costs and strain healthcare system

Recently, the Victorian Nationals and Liberals convened a meeting with approximately 30 GPs and representatives from prominent medical organizations to directly assess the adverse effects of Labor's Health Tax.

By news@gippsland - 12th September 2023 - Back to News

A new tax on General Practitioners (GP's) and Allied Health Professionals could leave Victorians without access to vital healthcare services. The Nationals are calling for Labor's Health tax to be withdrawn immediately. The Victorian Nationals and Liberals recently hosted around 30 GPs and representatives from peak medical bodies to hear first-hand the detrimental impact of Labor's Health Tax.

Labor's Health Tax threatens medical clinics' viability, potentially resulting in substantial bills totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars

Controversial health tax

Labor's Health tax will impact the viability of medical clinics by backdating payroll tax, resulting in tax bills of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars being issued. The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria, Melina Bath said for GP clinics to remain viable, Labors new tax will ultimately flow through to patients, making healthcare less affordable.

"The health tax will result in fewer bulk billing clinics and place more demand on Victoria's hospital and emergency health systems which are already struggling with demand and under resourcing. It is appalling that the Andrews government thinks it's acceptable to place a tax on healthcare - let alone a retrospective one on our GP clinics."

"People who live in rural and regional Victoria experience poorer health outcomes than those in metropolitan areas and Labor's health tax simply erects another barrier. Affordable health care for regional Victorians is challenging enough without being financially penalised by another Andrews government tax," said Ms Bath.

Divergent healthcare strategies

In contrast the NSW Labor government announced a 12 month pause on payroll tax audits for GPs to allow ongoing consultation with medical professionals, while the WA Labor government has ruled out any expansion of payroll tax on GPs.

Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier said, "This is a desperate cash grab by a government that is broke. "It will have huge ramifications for Victoria's strained health system and will only make it harder for Victorians to see a doctor."

Ms Bath said our GPs play a vital role in providing health care to our community. "Labor's Health Tax will add considerably to out-of-pocket medical costs and reduce access to bulk billing across our community, in worst case scenarios it may cause a clinic to close," she said.

Pictures from Victorian Department of Health Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com