Following Cleanbill’s report on Sunday that the ACT has the highest cost of any jurisdiction for a standard GP consultation, the ACT revenue office have now started contacting GP clinics in Canberra about a new “sick tax”.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has called on political leaders to intervene after a supreme court ruling meant that private practitioners are now considered employees for the purposes of payroll tax.

This decision means that many medical practices will pay more in payroll tax which will increase the costs and be passed on to patients who visit private practitioners.

Shadow Minister for Health, Leanne Castley said that this decision could not come at a worse time and urged the Chief Minister to exempt medical practices from this increase in payroll tax.

“Primary care is a crucial service for sick Canberrans, and it is atrocious that the ACT Revenue office is contacting practices telling them that their costs are increasing,” Ms Castley said.

“The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has flagged that this is expected to add around $15 per consult when costs are already an average $49.11 for a 15-minute visit with a GP.

“The ACT Government need to be doing everything they can to ensure that GPs are supported to ensure they can keep their costs as low as possible to encourage sick Canberrans to access their fantastic local GPs.

“General Practitioners in the ACT have faced workforce shortages and a decline in income relative to other specialists which has resulted in fewer graduates choosing to specialise as a GP and open a practice.

“The Chief Minister, Health Minister and Federal Labor representatives have all stressed the importance of General Practices reducing our extensive Emergency Department wait times and I hope that they support GPs so patients can access primary care they need,” Ms Castley concluded.