Greens push for Medicare budget boost


The Greens will push to restore the $664 million that Labor cut from Medicare in this year's federal budget.

The policy move is backed by the Australian Medical Association, with federal president Steve Hambleton to attend the policy launch in Alderley in Brisbane's north on Wednesday morning.

In May, Mr Hambleton warned that the cuts to Medicare would hurt families.

"Cuts to Medicare rebates and changes to Medicare safety nets inevitably increase out of pocket costs for medical care," Mr Hambleton said before the budget.

“Any short term budget gain for the government translates to financial pain for patients and downstream costs for the health system if early diagnosis and treatment is delayed."

Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters said Labor's decision to cut the $664 million over three years was wrong.

"We think that cutting Medicare, while refusing to fix the mining tax is a really sad indictment on the priorities of the government," Senator Waters said.

"The cuts were basically a delay of the indexation of payments, of the rebates.

"And we are worried that this will mean - and what we are hearing anecdotally from doctors already - is that they will have to pass the costs on, or it will act as a disincentive to bulk billing."

Senator Waters said doctors have told the Greens that it would have the impact of increasing the "out of pocket" expenses for people needing medical treatment.

"Or, it will act as a dis-incentive to bulk billing," she said.

Labor's parliamentary secretary for Health and Ageing, Shayne Neumann, said the ALP made the decision to reduce the indexation to Medicare payments to cut the budget deficit.

He said there was not a problem with a decrease in the number of doctors being prepared to bulk bill their patients.

"Bulk billing was 67 per cent during the Howard Government, when Mr Abbott was the health minister," he said.

"It is around 82 per cent under this Labor government," he said.

Mr Neumann, the Member for Blair, said Labor did not anticipate bulk billing rates would drop as the Greens believed.

Senator Waters said the Greens would fund the policy from a re-engineered mining tax, which Treasury forecasts show could raise $21.8 billion over the four-year forward estimates.

She agreed that the mining tax revenue ebbed and flowed as a profits-based tax, but disagreed this made the mining tax unreliable as a regular, predictable stream of revenue.

"I accept that it is a profits-based tax, but I also accept that there are a lot of taxes that are dependent on projections, this one included," she said.

"And governments work with that uncertainty and they rely on the projections that Treasury makes.

"So we are relying on Treasury estimates."

The Greens also propose to levy major banks to the tune of 0.2 per cent for deposits of more than $100 billion, raising $8.4 billion over four years.

"So it would only affect the big four banks," she said.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/greens-push-for-medicare-budget-boost-20130814-2rv73.html

Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it.

Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition.

Verge wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 9:43am:

Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition.

Disagree.
Greens have the opportunity of gaining the balance in both houses and so greening up whichever old party gain minority government control.
Since Abbott has ruled out working from minority, more likely Labor.

Isn't the Greens party dead now days?
Like who gives a crap what policies they have.
Any topic on Greens should be deleted from this forum because it sure isn't politics.

BlOoDy RiPpEr wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 10:00am:

Isn't the Greens party dead now days? Like who gives a crap what policies they have. Any topic on Greens should be deleted from this forum because it sure isn't politics.

Scared because you cant debate logically over logical Greens policies?

____ wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 9:48am:

Verge wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:43am: Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition. Disagree. Greens have the opportunity of gaining the balance in both houses and so greening up whichever old party gain minority government control. Since Abbott has ruled out working from minority, more likely Labor.

There is not one poll that suggests we are headed for a minority government.  Can you please explain how you think this is possible.

____ wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 9:48am:

Verge wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:43am: Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition. Disagree. Greens have the opportunity of gaining the balance in both houses and so greening up whichever old party gain minority government control. Since Abbott has ruled out working from minority, more likely Labor.

RUBBISH and you know it........and btw the greens have also said they wont work with the Libs....as a minority they say far too much sometimes this is why they are on the bottom of both parties preferences..... if you really believe that people will vote you into the senate because it gives you some sort of false power.... I think you will find you are wrong wrong wrong.....all it does is disable the voted in govt... and I think most are over that dont you???...

btw abbott said he will have another election if its a hung election...and good for him...

Verge wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 10:21am:

____ wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:48am: Verge wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:43am: Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition. Disagree. Greens have the opportunity of gaining the balance in both houses and so greening up whichever old party gain minority government control. Since Abbott has ruled out working from minority, more likely Labor. There is not one poll that suggests we are headed for a minority government.  Can you please explain how you think this is possible.

green lives in a fantasy party so he thinks everything is fanciful.lol..  even if they loooooooooooose all round he still wont believe it.. :(

Verge wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 10:21am:

____ wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:48am: Verge wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:43am: Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition. Disagree. Greens have the opportunity of gaining the balance in both houses and so greening up whichever old party gain minority government control. Since Abbott has ruled out working from minority, more likely Labor. There is not one poll that suggests we are headed for a minority government.  Can you please explain how you think this is possible.

Due to the potential of currently announced Liberal policies so to favour marginal seat results away from the coalition.
Polling is always reflective of past opinions and the opinions of swing voters at the moment are very fluid.
There is a reasonable chance the election could swing anyway, including a hung parliament where Greens hold the balance in both houses.

Verge wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 9:43am:

Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition.

Perhaps if the Greens had supported Labor occasionally beside when it suited them then Labor might have been more willing to negotiate and compromise.  Not once did the Greens support Labor unless it suited them.  This is why Labor loathes the greens just as much as the Libs.

Greens don't play well with others!

____ wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 10:39am:

Verge wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 10:21am: ____ wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:48am: Verge wrote on Aug 15th, 2013 at 9:43am: Greens wont restore anything.  The coalition according to the polls will win, and as a result the Greens will have no influence to do anything about it. Its nice to say the Greens will do it, but the reality is they have nothing to offer the Coalition. Disagree. Greens have the opportunity of gaining the balance in both houses and so greening up whichever old party gain minority government control. Since Abbott has ruled out working from minority, more likely Labor. There is not one poll that suggests we are headed for a minority government.  Can you please explain how you think this is possible. Due to the potential of currently announced Liberal policies so to favour marginal seat results away from the coalition. Polling is always reflective of past opinions and the opinions of swing voters at the moment are very fluid. There is a reasonable chance the election could swing anyway, including a hung parliament where Greens hold the balance in both houses.

yes it is a possibility. But so is a coup.  They have about the same probability at the moment.

.

The Greens have been portrayed as tree hugging loonies


Yet listen to their proposals --- they're suggesting the same sort of improvements as you.  They're thinking along the same lines as you


The Greens would restore Medicare

They'd also provide a Dentalcare card for schoolkids and pensioners.  And before long, all Aussies would have free dental cover


But think about it.  The Greens providing you with dental cover would not put billions in the hands of their cronies

No.  Dentists would be paid fair and square.  With money the two big fake parties would waste on BS projects designed to make their buddies rich

The Greens are being forced to compromise.  Because they're not big enough to govern.  So they have to kow-tow to the two big fake parties.  And it undermines the Greens

The two big fake parties are animals.  They're just puppets in the hands of overseas thugs

The Greens are being killed deliberately because the overseas rulers of Australia know many of us are going to refuse to vote for the two big fakes.  The thugs know we might just give our vote to the Greens. And the thugs don't control the Greens as completely as Labor and Libs are controlled


So think about giving your vote to the Greens.  Abbott and Kevvie don't give a shiiiit about your teeth or any of your other problems.  They do not.  Not at all.  You're just votes to them.  They're puppets.  They throw our money away and their buddies grab it.  They bring potential terrorists into this land at the same time they allow the warmongering US to read our emails

I believe the Greens.  I trust their intentions

I don't believe one word out of the mouths of the maniac puppets Abbott and Rudd.  And nor should you

PZ547 wrote on Aug 15^th, 2013 at 1:47pm:

. The Greens have been portrayed as tree hugging loonies Yet listen to their proposals --- they're suggesting the same sort of improvements as you.  They're thinking along the same lines as you The Greens would restore Medicare They'd also provide a Dentalcare card for schoolkids and pensioners.  And before long, all Aussies would have free dental cover But think about it.  The Greens providing you with dental cover would not put billions in the hands of their cronies No.  Dentists would be paid fair and square.  With money the two big fake parties would waste on BS projects designed to make their buddies rich The Greens are being forced to compromise.  Because they're not big enough to govern.  So they have to kow-tow to the two big fake parties.  And it undermines the Greens The two big fake parties are animals.  They're just puppets in the hands of overseas thugs The Greens are being killed deliberately because the overseas rulers of Australia know many of us are going to refuse to vote for the two big fakes.  The thugs know we might just give our vote to the Greens. And the thugs don't control the Greens as completely as Labor and Libs are controlled So think about giving your vote to the Greens.  Abbott and Kevvie don't give a shiiiit about your teeth or any of your other problems.  They do not.  Not at all.  You're just votes to them.  They're puppets.  They throw our money away and their buddies grab it.  They bring potential terrorists into this land at the same time they allow the warmongering US to read our emails I believe the Greens.  I trust their intentions I don't believe one word out of the mouths of the maniac puppets Abbott and Rudd.  And nor should you

The Greens are merely being told to go and get their OWN votes instead of leeching of other parties.  How cruel!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D