National Party says bring your credit card, not your Medicare card to children’s hospital

Parents could be forced to pay for kids’ public health services under Lawrence Springborg’s children’s hospital plan.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said Mr Springborg’s admission that he’d pursue a ‘user-charges’ payment system to pay for his children’s hospital promise is alarming.

“This should strike fear into the heart of every mother who has ever had to take her sick child to the emergency ward in the middle of the night,” Mr Fraser said.

“When a child is sick, parents should reach for their Medicare card, not their credit card, which they’d have to do under Lawrence Springborg.

“When Mr Springborg announced his plan for the children’s hospital, he said he’d use a Public Private Partnership to build it.

“He said that the $1.7 billion project would only require a $575 million investment from government.

“Mr Springborg has obviously twigged to the fact that no-one in the private sector will donate $1.1 billion to build a hospital, and is now considering making up the shortfall by charging families.

“Mr Springborg says a user-pays system is a likely model he’ll use to pay for it – if he doesn’t charge patients, who else can he charge?

“The Nationals have been unable to explain this policy since day one of the election campaign, and only now is the horrifying reality coming to light.

“Under no circumstances should Queensland families be slugged for using public hospital services, particularly for kids.”

Mr Fraser said a re-elected Bligh Government would continue to provide world-class public health services for all Queenslanders – for free.

“When a child is sick, parents shouldn’t and wouldn’t be thinking about money,’’ he said.

“I shudder to think of the consequences should a parent be unable to afford medical treatment for the child, just because Lawrence Springborg has put an entry fee on the front door.

““This is a scary development for Queensland families. No parent will be forced to pay for public health services under a Labor Government.”

Contact (Treasurer’s office): 3224 6361 or 32245982