Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has vehemently denied allegations by the Australian Labor Party, who alleged the Nationals and Liberal Party Government launched an attack on Medicare and recently “snuck out almost 1000 changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.”  

Labor Party spokesperson for Page Patrick Deegan claimed Australians that are already suffering are being punished even further because of the ruthless Medicare cuts.

“The age of residents in the Page electorate is higher than most electorates in the country, and it is older people that will face the greatest impact of these cuts,” he said.

“Mr Hogan must explain to the people of Page why changes that will put the health of older residents at risk and why his Government continues to attack Medicare.”

Mr Hogan remained firm in his response, describing the allegations as “just more Labor lies.”

“The Government’s commitment to Medicare is rock solid,” he said reassuringly.

 “The 2021-2022 Federal Budget increases funding for Medicare by $6 billion.”

Mr Hogan also revealed Commonwealth Medicare funding has increased from $19 billion per year in 2012/2013 to approximately $30 billion in 2021-2022.

“In addition, bulk billing rates are at a record high at 88.7 percent for the period from July 2020 to March 2021,” he revealed. 

“This is 6.7 percentage points higher than the same period in 2012-13 (82.0 percent), when Labor were last in government. 

“As part of the 2021-2022 Budget, we’re investing $125.7 billion over the next four years, an increase of over $6 billion from last year’s Budget.”