ALP Policy Announcement: Wealthy Private Hospitals and clinics to face the scalpel

In response to Labors Education Policy announcement that money would be moved from wealthy non-jewish and non-catholic private schools to catholic schools.

In perfect consistency with the recently released education policy which takes public money away from the best resourced schools in Australia, the ALP has announced that all private hospitals and clinics that charge excessively, i.e. above the Medicare rebate, will lose government funding.

Mr. Latham explained today how this will allow money to be shifted back into the public health system in support of public hospitals and bulk billing clinics across the country. Indeed, he promised an immediate increase in the fee support set by Medicare to encourage what he hopes will be a huge increase in the level of bulk billing. "Why should some wealthy Australians be assisted by government dollars to enjoy medical care in five star hotel conditions when we are struggling to fund medical services for all those who need it." Mr Latham asked. A Private hospital spokesperson warned that there would definitely be a large increase in private health insurance rates to cover the lost government support. He also predicted that there could be increased strain on public health clinics and hospitals due to the increased number of people who would use them now that private health services were so much more expensive. There is great expectancy now over the imminent release of the public transport policy tipped to penalise any state government support for private transport operators and move the full costs of road maintenance to private car owners.