14.
PRIME MINISTER
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON P J KEATING MP
HEALTH UNDER HEWSON BYE BYE BULK BILLING
Under Dr Hewson's health policy its bye, bye bulk billing.
Thirteen million Australians who now have access to bulk billing will lose it under
Dr Hewson.
That is, their right to visit a doctor and pay nothing goes out the window.
Under Dr Hewson it will be cash up-front at the AMA rate. That's S32 per visit.
Dr Hewson will hand control of our medical system over to the doctors. Doctors will set
their own prices and make health care a privilege instead of a right.
Dr Hewson's health policy was written by the doctors, for the doctors.
The greedy doctors in this country have scored a trifecta Dr Hewson, Dr Woods,
Dr Shepherd.
The AMA would be the faceless men of a Hewson Government.
Dr Hewson says he won't work with any union in Australia except the doctor's union.
The doctors' union has written Coalition health policy and in the process awarded
themselves a massive pay increase.
Bruce Shepherd is Australia's most threatening union boss under Dr Hewson he will
have won foi--s--members a billion dollar bonanza.
It's hard to believe an extra billion dollars for doctors alone.
6594
This is fairness Hewson-style doctors driving BMWs can sec their own fees, charge
what they like. while wage earners are forced onto lower wages through individual. work
contracts. S3 an hour for Australia's youth S3 a minute for doctors.
Doctors are told they can charge what they' can get away with while workers are told to
sign on the dotted line, or get the sack.
By' their own admission Dr Hewson's health policy is " music to the ears' of doctors.
( Leading AMA spokesman following Dr Hewson's address to theAA conference.)
Think about this if you're a young person on Dr HcIwson's S3 an hour wage you'd only
earn S114 a week, If you get crook and visit the doctor it'd cost you $ 32, almost a third of
a week's pay. Even after collecting a rebate thc gap would be $ 14, more than 10 per cent
of your week's pay. On top of that you'd be paying 15 per cent on your transport. 15 per
cent on your clothes. 15 per cent on your takeaway food, and 15 per cent on just about
everything else you use or buy.
If you're a Shift worker it's the same story'. You'll have to sien an individual work
contract, your penalty rates are taken away, your wage will be cut dramatically. You pay
the 15 per cent GST on every'thing and you'll still have to pay the $ 32 up front.
If Dr Hewson doesn't get you on the swing, he'll get you on the roundabout. Everyvwhere
you turn, you'll be paying more.
Every time you put your hand in your pocket. Dr Hewson's hand will be there too.
BRISBANE February 22, 1993 6595