Lee calls on Barr to scrap ‘sick tax’ and support her bill

Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee will today introduce a Bill to stop Andrew Barr’s ‘sick tax’ that will make it more expensive for Canberrans to see a GP.

Ms Lee said the bill will exempt clinics from payroll tax on GPs engaged as contractors which the the AMA, RACGP and local GPs have stated will have significant ramifications going forward on the viability of GP clinics and will most certainly lead to Canberrans paying more to visit a GP.

“If Andrew Barr and his Labor-Greens colleagues are serious about ensuring Canberrans have access to affordable healthcare, they must support my bill,” Ms Lee said.

“This bill, a very simple amendment to the ACT Payroll Act 2011 will not only provide much needed certainty to GPs but ensure Canberrans are not paying more to see their GPs, including the most vulnerable in the community.

“The knee-jerk policy put forward by the Chief Minister to provide an exemption for two years to practices which bulk bill 65 per cent of their patients has been heavily criticised by GPs as unrealistic and unachievable and will force GPs to pass on the cost to patients, up to $20 a consultation.

“The Canberra Liberals, RACGP, AMA and local GPs have all raised concerns about this tax and the impact it will have not only on GP clinics and extra costs to patients, but the added stress it will put on an already failing emergency department.

“I call on Andrew Barr and all members of Labor and the Greens to support this bill, provide certainty for GP clinics and ensure Canberrans do not pay more to visit a GP,” Ms Lee concluded.