THE HON BILL SHORTEN MP

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
MEMBER FOR MARIBYRNONG

 

JULIE OWENS MP

SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR SMALL BUSINESS

SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PARRAMATTA

 

MEDIA RELEASE

 

GP TAX TO COST WESTERN SYDNEY FAMILIES $100 MILLION EVERY YEAR

The Abbott Government’s GP Tax stands to hit Western Sydney families harder than anywhere else in Australia – costing families nearly $100 million every year.

 

Nine of the top ten electorates Australia-wide that will be hardest hit by Tony Abbott’s $7 GP Tax are in Western Sydney – each one of these communities face tax hikes of more than $8.1 million every year.

 

Families in Mt Druitt face a new GP Tax of more than $10.2 million while Parramatta families will pay more than $9.1 million in GP Tax.

 

Prime Minister Tony Abbott must explain why he thinks families in the western suburbs should bear the brunt of his broken promise on GP Tax.

 

Labor believes that all Australians should get the healthcare they need – not just the healthcare Tony Abbott says they can afford.

 

Tony Abbott said before the election he wouldn’t bring in any new taxes. His new GP tax is lie that millions of Western Sydney families won’t forget.

 

The $7 tax on doctor visits hits everyone – pensioners, parents, unemployed, low income earners, people with a disability, even our veterans. And for the first time, pensioners and concessional patients will be charged for pathology and imaging services out of hospital.

Labor will continue to fight this tax.  Families in Western Sydney shouldn’t have to pay for Tony Abbott’s lies.

 

TOP TEN ELECTORATES AUSTRALIA-WIDE THAT WILL BE HARDEST HIT BY TONY ABBOTT’S NEW GP TAX

 

Source: Medicare bulk billing data 2013

 

WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY 2014

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:        LEADER’S OFFICE MEDIA  UNIT 02 6277 4053

TILLY SOUTH (OWENS) 02 9689 1455