Labor’s Shadow Minister for Health, Catherine King, Member for Ballarat, will address a public meeting at Lurnea’s George Bates Community Centre on Thursday, August 14.
It follows vigorous opposition from the Member for Werriwa, Laurie Ferguson to the proposed $7 co-payment payable whenever most people visit the doctor.
“The three biggest complaints I have had from residents about the Budget have been the reduced indexation rate for Aged Pensioners, the massive reduction in young people’s unemployment payments and the overall attack on our public health system, totalling a reduction of $2.8 billion over five years,” Mr Ferguson said.
“The co-payment is designed by the Government to reduce visits to the doctor. It means poorer, more sickly families and individuals will have to make a very hard decision get sicker or pay more money.
”Our country spends a much lower percentage of our Gross Domestic Product on health than most developed nations. This is unwarranted .”
As well as Catherine King, a representative of the South Western Sydney Medicare Local will be at the August 14 meeting to talk about their work. A major aspect is their after hours home doctors visits.
