"We will never, never compromise on Medicare"

[boris1gary]

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/we-will-never-never-compromise-on-medicare-...

'We will never, never compromise on Medicare': Opposition Leader Bill Shorten tells National Press Club

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has flatly ruled out compromising with Tony Abbott on Medicare payment changes.

In his first National Press Club speech of the year, Mr Shorten declared: "There are no circumstances under which Labor will pass the GP tax."

Mr Shorten was alluding to recent speculation that the Coalition might introduce a $6 co-payment fee for GP visits.

The Prime Minister, Mr Abbott, has denied he has any plans to do so. But the Opposition Leader went further, removing any hopes the Health Minister, Peter Dutton, might have held to pursue bipartisan reductions or changes to Medicare funding arrangements.

"We will never, never compromise on Medicare," Mr Shorten said on Wednesday.

"Prime Minister, give up the fight on the GP tax – you will lose."

[poddster]

I have a strong suspision that those words will come back to bite Wee Willie on the bum. 🙂

[poddster]

---

@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

Not so, those taxes could be spent on healthcare; Medicare, even.

---

They could be but in fact they are not, never have been and never will be.

[punch*drunk]

---

@acacia_pycnantha wrote:

Sure, in the real  (albeit cynical) world, the cost will not be absorbed (mammon forbid!)

but will be passed on.

Then the consumer gets to excercise their right to shop around for a cheaper price or decide not to buy in the first plce.

---

Is there an electricity company out there that doesnt pass on the tax? I'd be happy enough to change to them if I could find them, its not so easy to decide not to buy electricity

[lakeland27]

---

@poddster wrote:

And do you believe that an enterprise is prepared to absorb the tax? it will be passed on to the consumer.

There by hangs the plot, impose a tax on an entity who will pass it to the consumer and then collect more in tax from rising prices on good and services affected by the imposition of the tax.Typical smoke and mirrors.

---

actually , under the so called ' direct action' scheme the tax is still paid, its merely passed on to the big polluters $5BN or so

the government will pay out of direct revenue (or tax if you prefer)  and the price of electricity wont come down.

try researching..

[polksaladallie]

---

@freddie*rooster wrote:

I've just returned from taking my 90yr old mother (Pensioner) for a follow up after having a Basal Cell Carsinoma removed by an eye specialist from her eye lid 6 months ago.

$80 fee she gets back $36.55

---

$80?  She was lucky.  That minor surgery is usually double that amount or more.

What price eyesight or a life?   Peanuts.

[freddie*rooster]

---

@polksaladallie wrote:

---

@freddie*rooster wrote:

I've just returned from taking my 90yr old mother (Pensioner) for a follow up after having a Basal Cell Carsinoma removed by an eye specialist from her eye lid 6 months ago.

$80 fee she gets back $36.55

---

$80?  She was lucky.  That minor surgery is usually double that amount or more.

What price eyesight or a life?   Peanuts.

---

That wasn't for the surgery, that had already be paid for 6 months prior,  that was for a 2 minute follow up.

[boris1gary]

---

@poddster wrote:

Boris dont you think comparing the validity of labor leaders' statements is within the bounds of the topic.

I am just highliting the fact that when Labor say "cheese" it actually means "chalk"

---

It's not the topic however you may choose to spin it - the topic is clear, please stick to it.

[polksaladallie]

---

@freddie*rooster wrote:

---

That wasn't for the surgery, that had already be paid for 6 months prior,  that was for a 2 minute follow up.

---

Sorry, I didn't read it properly.    

It stinks that there is so much out-of-pocket to pay.  But I would never go to a public hospital if I can help it for such care.  (I have worked there and know too much).  I am a pensioner also with no other income.