What will payroll tax mean for patients in regional NSW?
March 23, 2023
AMA (NSW) urges newly elected Labor Government to step up to healthcare challenges
March 26, 2023
On the eve of Election Day in NSW, AMA (NSW) is warning that both major parties have failed to announce policies that will address the critical issues facing hospitals and our health system.
“We have a crisis in our hospitals that is driven by workforce shortages, a primary health sector that is on the verge of collapse due to financial vulnerabilities, and elective surgery wait lists that are hitting records highs,” said AMA (NSW) President, Dr Michael Bonning.
“The next Government needs a clear plan to rise to these challenges and in the lead up to the election we have yet to see one.
“There’s a golden opportunity to save general practice from the brink of collapse by giving practice owners certainty over their financial futures and granting a payroll tax exemption to general practices.
“The failure of both the Liberal Party and the Labor Party to make a meaningful public commitment on this issue is hugely disappointing.
“No matter who wins on Election Day, the next Government will be hard pressed to make overtures to the Commonwealth about the need to fix primary care when they’ve failed to address payroll tax in NSW,” Dr Bonning said.
AMA (NSW) hosted a discussion with election candidates on Thursday 23 March. The State of Health webinar featured doctors running in the NSW election, including Dr Joe McGirr, Dr Amanda Cohn, and Dr Michael Holland. While they all represent different sides of politics, they agreed that a payroll tax exemption is an important measure that would protect general practices and keep care affordable and accessible for patients.
AMA (NSW) has welcomed the commitment by Labor to lift the wages policy, but urges should they succeed at the polls, this change must be made quickly and fairly.
“There is a need to lift the wages cap for all healthcare workers. NSW doctors are among the lowest paid in the country with conditions dating back to the 1980s. Award and contract conditions must be updated to attract and retain the best and brightest in our public hospital system,” Dr Bonning said.
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