This budget fails Australian patients, has zero vision for the future of the system and is a political fix, pure and simple. The Government’s plan to lift the Medicare freeze will have no impact for patients for at least a year, if not longer, leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said.

“Greg Hunt’s ‘road map’ for health lacks any vision for the future of healthcare in this country. It’s a U-turn that takes us back to where we were three years ago. 

“If you’re under the age of 35, you’ve been screwed over in this budget - whether it’s the gouging of higher education, the lack of action on climate change or the refusal to tackle housing affordability,” Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said.

“It’s clear that the Government finally understands you can’t just keep cutting spending without raising revenue. But this is a budget with no vision or direction for the country. It isn’t a roadmap for the future, it’s a highway to nowhere,” Dr Di Natale said. 

Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today said:

“Immunisation is one of the most successful public health initiatives ever, and has led to millions of lives being saved all over the world.

“Vaccines are a victim of their own success with many life-threatening illnesses now a distant memory in Australia but a decline in immunisation rates could see the return of some of these devastating diseases.

“As a doctor and a public health specialist, I urge all Australian parents to ensure that their kids are immunised.

“The drug overdoses that occurred last night are another reminder that both state and federal governments are failing young Australians. We need politicians to do what they’re paid to do - make laws that put people’s safety first," Senator Richard Di Natale, leader of the Australian Greens said today.
 
“We know that young people will continue to try drugs. We can’t stick our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not going to happen. What we need to do is give them the tools they need to make educated choices.