Don't Americanise Medicare - GetUp

The Abbott gov's fixed commission of audit has been released. Unsurprisingly there are a raft of recommendations to address the gov invented "budget emergency". One of them is of course to charge people for getting sick, but this recommendation is as high as $15! Therefore, with the minor parties having to be negotiated with in the senate to get the budget through, GetUp has started a petition to make it clear to the Canberra pollies, that a great many of Australians are against the end of bulk billing.

As the gov is well and truly on the nose with the electorate, it can only be hoped that the minor parties will stand up to Abbott to protect our Medicare system:

In a budget that will give a free pass to coal pollution and big mining, the Abbott government is trying to balance their books by charging Australians for getting sick. 

We'd heard Mr Abbott's "Sick Tax" would hit us with a $6 fee whenever we visit our GP (on top of the Medicare levy we already contribute out of every pay). But Abbott's business-led Commission of Audit has recommended it be as high as $15! 

Make no mistake--whether it's $6 or $15, this "Sick Tax" is the first step away from a universal Medicare system to be proud of, towards a profit-driven, American-style healthcare system that preys on the sick, the injured, and the vulnerable. It's an idea so anti-Medicare, it actually came from a private healthcare industry think tank! 

With leaders watching closely to see how we react to these reports, and pivotal minor parties deciding where they stand, we need to create a huge groundswell of opposition now, before it's too late. Let our politicians know that Australians will not stand for this shameful "Sick Tax". sign here