ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

“Low income people that do not have children, such as part time and casual workers earning as little as $340 a week as well as full time workers on the minimum wage of $450, are locked out from getting the Government’s bulk billing incentives.”

“Even millionaires with children are better off under the Government’s package than a single person who is struggling to survive on the minimum wage. This is absurd and unfair.”

“The ‘safety net’ proposal in the Government’s package also discriminates against low income singles. The threshold before they qualify for the ‘safety net’ is set at $1000. This is double the level ($500) for low income people who have a concession card and for people with children.”

“This means that low income single people will pay more to see a doctor while millionaire families receive a higher subsidy from the Government.”

“Many low income singles will be young people starting out in their working life. The Howard Government has already lifted university fees, booming house prices are shutting young people out of owning a home, and now they will be slugged with higher health costs.”

“The ‘Medicare Plus’ package is also seriously flawed because it hands to doctors and specialists a free rein to increase the fees they charge.”

“As a whole, the Howard Government’s health proposals will wreck bulk-billing and destroy the universality of Medicare.”

“They will create a two-tier system that will mean ordinary working Australians and their families will not be able to afford quality health care.”

“It is essential that the Senate especially the Independents and Democrats refuse to pass the Health Minister’s poorly designed and unfair package.”