The Liberals and Nationals have introduced a bill into State Parliament to stop Labor's unfair Health Tax.
Recently, the State Revenue Office (SRO) began issuing notices to medical practices classifying tenanted doctors (General Practitioners), dentists, physiotherapists and other allied health practitioners as employees, rather than contractors, for the purposes of payroll tax.
In many cases, the Labor Government is backdating the tax owed by up to five years, resulting in tax bills in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
This tax will ultimately flow through to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients and will mean fewer bulk billing clinics operating in Victoria, with patients having to travel further for care or resort to seeking medical attention at already-stretched Emergency Departments.
Victorians will be left without vital primary healthcare services if the Allan Government doesn't withdraw this tax.
The Opposition's bill will seek to amend thePayroll Tax Act 2007 to override the SRO ruling, stopping Labor's Health Tax.
Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, said: "The Labor Government arrogantly refuses to listen to warnings from GPs and other health professionals as it presses ahead with its damaging and unfair Health Tax.
"This is a desperate and callous cash grab by a government that is broke. It will have huge ramifications for Victoria's beleaguered health system.
"Victorians shouldn't have to suffer because the Labor Government can't manage its budget. The Liberals and Nationals' bill will stop Labor's unfair Health Tax."
