Andrews' petition is misinformation, says Lloyd

Federal Member for Robertson, Mr Jim Lloyd, has criticised State Labor Member for Peats, Ms Marie Andrews, for circulating a petition about the Federal Government's "Fairer Medicare" package.

Speaking in parliament on May 26, Mr Lloyd said: "This misinformation only serves to frighten residents unnecessarily and is a total waste of taxpayers' money."

Mr Lloyd said that the petition falsely claimed that the Government's Fairer Medicare package would result in the loss of access to bulk-billing.

"The Government's package provides an extra $917 million," said Mr Lloyd.

"As is the case now, doctors will be free to bulk-bill whomever they choose.

"For the first time, we will be strengthening the availability of bulk-billing to pensioners, concession care holders and low-income people, but nobody will be precluded.

"[Doctors] can choose to provide care at no cost to a patient regardless of whether the patient holds a Commonwealth concession card and regardless of their income.

"The state's hospitals are in crisis.

"[Premier Bob Carr and Marie Andrews] have rejected that very generous five-year Medicare offer from the Commonwealth to inject a real increase of 17 per cent into the state hospitals simply because the Commonwealth has asked them to be honest with the Australian community [about] how much money they are putting into the state government hospitals."

Ms Andrews has stood by her petition.

"There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the number of doctors bulk billing on the Central Coast has fallen dramatically since the Howard Government came to power in 1996," she said.

"In the past two years, bulk billing has dropped almost 20 per cent on the Central Coast.

"I am outraged by these proposed changes and have registered my opposition by speaking on Medicare.

"Under the Federal Government's proposed changes to Medicare, millions of working families will lose access to bulk billing and will be forced to pay extra to see their doctor.

"Instead of launching an attack upon me in Federal Parliament, the Member for Robertson should inform his constituents of where he stands when it comes to ensuring that bulk billing will become an attractive option for the majority of Central Coast doctors.

"Also the Federal Member should let everyone know what he is doing about encouraging more GPs to our region and overcoming the current huge shortage of nursing home beds."

Press releases, June 4