Australian Greens health spokesperson and former GP, Dr Richard Di Natale, welcomed reports that the government is planning to scrap its planned $5 Medicare rebate cut but said the fight to protect Medicare isn’t over.

“We will all celebrate if the $5 cut to Medicare rebates is finally sent to the graveyard of dumb policy ideas but nobody should forget that the worst aspect of the government’s Medicare changes remains in place,” said Senator Di Natale.

Australian Greens health spokesperson and former GP, Dr Richard Di Natale, today welcomed the Abbott government’s last minute back down on the $20 cut to short GP consultations.

OVERVIEW OF ABBOTT GOVERNMENT’S HEALTH CHARGE CHANGES

1.      

$20 cut for consultations under 10 minutes

Australian Greens health spokesperson and former GP, Dr Richard Di Natale, today slammed the Abbott Government’s cynical attack on Medicare.

“If you wanted to destroy the fabric of Medicare there are two ways you could go about it,” said Senator Di Natale, a former GP.

“The first way is to change the law around Medicare and the second way is just to stop paying for it.