Australian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Richard Di Natale, said today that the damning audit report into the Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement demonstrates the need for a new process of negotiation.

“The audit report reveals a devastatingly flawed agreement that fails by any standard of good governance,” said Senator Di Natale.

Australian Greens health spokesperson and former GP, Dr Richard Di Natale, today proposed a new way forward in health reform that doesn’t target patients.

“The Greens will stand firmly against any health reforms that reduce access or fairness, but there is another way forward,” said Senator Di Natale.

“We have an excellent health system in Australia and while there is no evidence that spending is spiralling out of control, the Greens always believe in preparing for long term challenges and following evidence-based policy.

Australian Greens health spokesperson and former GP, Dr Richard Di Natale, said that the government’s objective is still to make patients pay more to see a doctor.

“Rumours of the co-payment’s death are greatly exaggerated,” said Senator Di Natale.

“While the Greens welcome the back down on the $5 rebate cut, freezing rebates is a prescription for a co-payment by stealth.

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.

“This is a good outcome that has resulted from the senate backing the Greens’ plan for a disallowance motion,” said Senator Di Natale.

“After spending the best part of a year failing to win parliamentary support for its co-payment the Abbott Government has finally realised that it needs to start consulting. 

OVERVIEW OF ABBOTT GOVERNMENT’S HEALTH CHARGE CHANGES

1.       $20 cut for consultations under 10 minutes

(Note: On15 January 2015 the Abbott Government announced that they would scrap the rebate cut for short GP consults).

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.