GPs Slam Government's 'Tax Grab' That Will Cost Aussies

The Victorian and NSW governments are being accused of a “tax grab” for imposing a payroll tax on independent GPs. GPs say the move will kill off bulk-billing, leaving patients an extra $20 out of pocket per appointment.

#Healthcare #BulkBilling #AusPol

[jacare]

The State Tax Offices have this horribly wrong. The GP's are leasing / renting out a room in a practice. The GP's are not employees. The GP's are paying the Practice either a fixed amount per day; OR, a percentage of their income for the services provided. I now ask the question: How can the GP's be classed as employees, when they are their own bosses? The GP's make decisions as to who they charge the gap fee / bulk bill, so they are the bosses, not the Practice as the State Taxation Offices are claiming. It also needs to be stated that payroll tax is employer / employee relations; this is not present in this arrangement described above.

If my reading of a piece of legislation is correct, the State Taxation Offices could be in a world of pain in the near future. They are bound by this legislation, and, no one seems to know the law. Lawyers that have been spoken with are dumbfounded when quizzed on this legislation, and the reach that this has across Australia. Several that have been quizzed are trying to find legal people that know this legislation, which are non existent! It may be that it is used in other branches of government with detriment to the government. If the Crown insist on the Public complying with the Law, the Public are within their right to demand that the Crown comply with their own Laws as well. Time will tell...

[timhocking]

The federal government’s should give a grant of money slightly larger than what the taxes would earn to States that don’t have this tax on GPs. And also increase the Medicare rebate.

[YML]

20mins.. that be 5 people in a hour. 8hours. So $40x5x8=$1600 a day..

[lodileipoldt]

19 minutes??? How many and how often does a GP spend 19 minutes with a patient??? For most patients it is more like 5-10 minutes in and out of the consultation room. Also a large number of GP's and specialists were very quietly accepting to c-ovid narrative and it's devastating consequences which had nothing to do with best interest of patients. Of course, any professional deserves a decent payment for services rendered, and I do realise that governments seem less and less interested in sustaining quality medical care. Yet, I doubt that higher Medicare rebate will lead to better medical care.