South Australians across the state have started to pay more to see their general practitioner with Peter Malinauskas’ GP payroll tax grab taking effect from July 1.
Doctors have told the Opposition some clinics have been left with no choice but to charge patients up to $20 extra per GP visit to cover the added cost of this tax grab from Labor.
On a three day visit to the South East, Leader of the Opposition, David Speirs, with Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional South Australia, Ben Hood, visited The Medical Clinic Millicent to discuss their concerns over the GP payroll tax grab.
With a shortage of GPs across regional South Australia, doctors fear Labor’s tax grab will be an added deterrent for those considering work as a general practitioner in country towns.
The Opposition is calling on Peter Malinauskas to scrap his cruel GP payroll tax grab, and if he won’t, the Liberal Party is committed to abolishing this tax on general practitioners if elected in 2026.
Leader of the Opposition, David Speirs, said Peter Malinauskas’ decision to impose this tax grab on doctors and patients makes no sense when South Australia’s health system is at crisis point.
“Our entire hospital system is under enormous pressure under Labor, with a recent statewide code yellow internal emergency even seeing elective surgeries cancelled at our regional hospitals,” Mr Speirs said.
“We know the added costs of Labor’s tax grab for patients will force them into our already overwhelmed hospitals, or sick South Australians will let their illnesses deteriorate to the point where they’ll need hospital care that could have been avoided.
“Unfortunately, general practice is becoming less attractive for medical students, and we fear Labor’s tax grab is an extra deterrent that could be the nail in the coffin for many practices.
“We’re calling on Peter Malinauskas to scrap his disastrous GP payroll tax grab now and if he won’t, we will if elected in 2026.”
Shadow Minister for Regional Health Services, Penny Pratt, said Peter Malinauskas should be introducing incentives to boost South Australia’s regional health workforce.
“Our regions already have huge workforce challenges, and we fear Labor’s GP payroll tax grab will only exacerbate existing shortages in our health system,” Ms Pratt said.
“We have long been calling on the Malinauskas Labor Government to introduce incentives to entice doctors, nurses, and midwives to our regions – and to make sure experienced staff stay – but this move by Peter Malinauskas is a huge step backwards.
“We must be making it easier for doctors to practice in regional South Australia, not harder.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional South Australia and South East local, Ben Hood, said Labor’s GP payroll tax grab is a clear indication of how out of touch Peter Malinauskas is with the needs of regional South Australians.
“Labor is undermining our essential services with their GP payroll tax grab,” Mr Hood said.
“This move from Peter Malinauskas comes at a time when, for the first time in living memory, Millicent has been unable to secure a registrar and has the lowest number of doctors in 50 years.
“This tax grab comes at a time when Country Health Connect are withdrawing nursing services from towns across the South East such as Lucindale, Coonalpyn and Tintinara.
“Regional South Australians simply cannot afford to lose any more primary healthcare providers, so Peter Malinauskas needs to end his grubby GP payroll tax grab now."
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