SENATOR WELCOMES LABOR BACK DOWN ON CATARACT REBATES

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The Governments back down over the plan to halve the Medicare rebate available for patients who undergo private cataract surgery has been welcomed by North Queensland Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald.

Senator Macdonald, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern and Remote Australia, said that the announcement marks another important victory for grass roots political campaigning in Australia.

“When the government came up with their plan to halve the Medicare rebate for cataract surgeries they did so without consultation, investigation or indeed any due diligence,” said Senator Macdonald.

“When the measures were announced in the Budget the reaction from the industry and from those Australians it was going to effect was immediate.

“My colleagues and I were contacted by a broad range of people with genuine concerns. Together with these people we have distributed petitions, contacted the media and got out amongst the community, planning to force Mr Rudd to correct the situation.

“The Coalition used its numbers in the Senate to block the measures and have been trying to reach an acceptable arrangement with the Government ever since.

“Today’s announcement from Health Minister Roxon that the rebate won’t be halved but instead reduced by 12%, a figure which ophthalmologists agree is acceptable, is a direct result of the grassroots campaign and the Coalition action in the Senate.

“As part of the agreement, $5 million was announced to help boost rural eye health, this is certainly a step in the right direction but wont make up for Mr Rudds other failures to rural medicine,” said Senator Macdonald.

END

29 January 2010

Media contact Gordon Terry      (07) 4771 3066   or   0427 960 255                                           

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