Callous Safety Net Cuts Hurt Families In The Hills
Thursday, 27 October 2011
A study of Medicare data by the University of New South Wales has revealed that callous cuts made by the Gillard government to the Medicare Safety Net had prevented couples in the Hills from starting a family through assisted reproductive treatments.
‘Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Health Minister Nicola Roxon stand condemned by these revelations,” Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said. “There are a lot of young couples looking to start a family in the Hills. The cuts Labor made to the Extended Medicare Safety Net put IVF treatment out of the financial reach of many couples.
“The Coalition, doctors and groups that represent those seeking IVF treatment all warned that this would be the case when they went to make the cuts in 2009. But in typical Labor fashion the government chose to not listen.
“Because of these actions we have seen a 13 per cent drop in the use of IVF technology in the year since Labor made this change. In real terms an estimated 1500 babies were not conceived and born thanks to Minister Roxon’s shameful short-sighted actions.
“Families in the Hills who are used to being let down by Labor will not be surprised to learn that this cruel decision represents yet another broken promise by Labor. In 2007 Labor promised they would not change the safety net, but two years later they capped payments on IVF and obstetric treatments. Working families cannot trust Labor.
“The Minister guaranteed that those seeking IVF treatments would not be worse off under the changes she made. The study confirms that this is once again, another broken promise.
“These changes are forcing some families in the Hills to abandon their hopes of having children because of the increased costs they would face amounting to thousands of dollars.
“Labor poor decisions making consistently makes life harder for families in our area. This financial barrier that the Minister has put in the way of young couples trying to start a family is another horrible example of this,” Alex Hawke concluded.