Last week the Prime Minister admitted the safety net is an unsustainable policy. This is after The Howard Government spent $20 million of taxpayer’s money during the last election campaign telling Australian families about the Medicare safety net.
“This has been cruel hoax for families in the Calwell Electorate; in the same way the Howard Government has broken its promises on interest rates and on sending more troops to Iraq.”
“John Howard and Peter Costello were prepared to say anything and do anything to get elected. Now, after the election, Australian families have been told they will be forced to pay more for their health care." said Maria Vamvakinou
"Between the year 2000 and 2004 the rate of bulk billing in the Calwell Electorate has plumeted by 9.2%, families need a reliable Medicare system that lets them easily access a Bulk Billing GP, not a second class saftey net that is being cut to shreads." Said Maria Vamvakinou
"On ABC's Four Corners program on 6 September, 2004, Health Minister, Tony Abbott, said the Government had a 'cast-iron commitment' to the Medicare Saftey Net. Minister Abbott and the Prime Minister have misled Calwell families and are clearly unable to deliver a sustainable health care system to all Australians.” said Maria
Maria Vamvakinou said “Labor has always believed Medicare should be a universal health system which benefits the many not the few. The failed Medicare safety net was always a short term, unsustainable, political fix concocted by Minister Abbott to win votes. It was never designed to help all Australians and to ease the pressure on families trying to meet the cost of health care"
