Abbott; the GP co-payment and related backflip(s)

[Jiska]

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/12/09/15/46/abbott-scraps-gp-copayment

I had to have a laugh at people being able to pay a "voluntary" $5 co-payment. I'd be interested to see the numbers on how many people "volunteer" to pay for something.

This backflip/backdown, whatever you want to call it, is a great thing for Australians. Our universally free healthcare system will continue to remain the envy of the developed world.

Edit: At the time this news story was quote, it had one paragraph saying Abbott had announced dropping the $7 co-payment and then "more to follow". There were no details of the "new" co-payment.

 

[Danny Cullen]

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2014/12/09/15/46/abbott-scraps-gp-copayment

I had to have a laugh at people being able to pay a "voluntary" $5 co-payment. I'd be interested to see the numbers on how many people "volunteer" to pay for something.

This backflip/backdown, whatever you want to call it, is a great thing for Australians. Our universally free healthcare system will continue to remain the envy of the developed world.

Healthcare isn't free.

 

[rodney hoo]

Was not the $7 payment going to be invested in scientific research after he cut the guts out of the csiro, any scientist holding out for a job now f..ked. We will be the dumbest nation on earth.

 

[Hank Scorpion]

It's a step back, rather than a complete policy backdown. It is a welcome development in any case.

Dutton & Abbott look mighty stupid after reaffirming their commitment to the policy only two weeks ago.

 

[AM]

It's one of the few policies the Mad Monk produced with which I had some sympathy.

The worried well and the lonely who just want a chat do have a tendency to unnecessarily add to GP waiting times. There! I've said it.

Clearly, it's another Abbott back down. And transferring the onus onto the GPs not only won't work, it's weak.

 

[Jiska]

Healthcare isn't free.

Errrrr. Yes it is?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

The politics of this are shocking.

Abbott is a dead duck. The only thing he ever had going for him was he looked like a secure leader of a united team. Compared to the other mob anyway. Despite his policies (or lack of) he looked in charge of the Coalition.

That's gone, and it's all he had.

Dump him (first term PM, massively hypocritical) or lose the election (they may anyway).

 

[LennyStarkiller]

Errrrr. Yes it is?

It is not free. We pay a medicare levy in our taxes.

 

[Jiska]

It is not free. We pay a medicare levy in our taxes.

Not everyone does.

 

[mottrain]

Not everyone does.

This is why the use of the term 'universally free' is condemned because it is misleading.

 

[Danny Cullen]

Errrrr. Yes it is?

Nup.

 

[LennyStarkiller]

Not everyone does.

You're right but the majority of Australians do. I am sure you would be paying the levy unless you are earning less than $20,542 if you aren't a pensioner.

 

[clogged]

Kevin Rudd in fast time.

 

[poller]

This incompetent government gets rid of a bad co-payment and replaces it with a worse co-payment

 

[poller]

The politics of this are shocking.

Abbott is a dead duck. The only thing he ever had going for him was he looked like a secure leader of a united team. Compared to the other mob anyway. Despite his policies (or lack of) he looked in charge of the Coalition.

.

Actually Abbott was ever a secure leader ,it was the media who protected him from the public , they refuse to tell the public the truth about abbott incompetence.

 

[mottrain]

This incompetent government gets rid of a bad co-payment and replaces it with a worse co-payment

How is that copayment worse?

 

[poller]

How is that copayment worse?

Abbott promised there will be no changes to medicare

Doctors will have to charge patients,

 

[mottrain]

Abbott promised there will be no changes to medicare

Doctors will have to charge patients

No they won't.

 

[poller]

No they won't.

How are they going to make up for the cuts ?

 

[mottrain]

How are they going to make up for the cuts ?

Maybe take their pay cut like some others. Many think that they get overpayed as it is especially with the two minute meetings.

 

[poller]

Maybe take their pay cut like some others. Many think that they get overpayed as it is especially with the two minute meetings.

Its over for this incompetent government

To end this mess Abbott should stick to his promise of calling the election early ,this government can not govern

 

[swingdog]

Maybe take their pay cut like some others. Many think that they get overpayed as it is especially with the two minute meetings.

That'll happen.

 

[mottrain]

Its over for this incompetent government

To end this mess Abbott should stick to his promise of calling the election early ,this government can not govern

Deflect when you have been shown the answer. How do you know they cannot govern. It is pretty problematic when you get stopped from governing by parties putting handouts first.

 

[mottrain]

That'll happen.

They could quite easily regulate it and prevent them from charging certain people.

 

[poller]

Deflect when you have been shown the answer. How do you know they cannot govern. It is pretty problematic when you get stopped from governing by parties putting handouts first.

The doctors it seems can charge $5 extra for every 10minutes, there's nothing say they can't

Abbott has proven he can't govern, he can not get his major legislation through he promised he would not do deals with minor parties , the greens or independents but he lied