Australian Medical Association

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, provides the AMA's immediate response to Budget 2009 at a news conference in the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

The audio of AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua's, response can be found via the link below:

• ABC News - Money stripped from health: AMA - audio

The AMA welcomed a proposed increase in tobacco tax. The AMA has always supported increased tax and price signals on products that are bad for your health in order to reduce consumption. This is an opportunity to make health gains for individuals, and the revenue could support essential health care for the increasing unemployed.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said doctors were deeply concerned for the one million Australians expected to lose their jobs over the next few years as a result of the recession.

The AMA says the most alarming element of last night’s budget is the total absence of health support measures for the unemployed.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the budget predicted one million Australians would be out of work, but made no provision for caring for their health needs.

“These people are vulnerable. Unemployment has a huge impact on health. Stress levels rise dramatically, people cut corners on healthy living and it all takes a physical toll. The emotional impact can be even greater, often leading to debilitating mental health issues, including depression.

“Without proper care these health issues can destroy individuals and families.

“These people are in real and immediate need of medical care. However, the Government has made no provision for extra public hospital services or support for GPs in this budget.

The AMA says tonight’s budget does nothing to provide Australians with confidence that their health needs will be met in the face of the recession. There is nothing to cushion Australians from the ravages of the recession.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said the budget will mean many Australians will pay more for health adding to their anxiety when they are already stressed about job security and the future.

“More detailed analysis is needed, but one thing is clear: the government’s broken promises and lack of understanding will mean sick Australians will wait longer or pay more for health.

“Estimates are that we will have one million people unemployed and we fear the ravages of this will hit the health system harder than the government realises.  Many of these Australians will be forced to rely on our crumbling public health system. They will need help with a broad range of health issues including stress related illness and mental health.”

Leaked budget measures reported in the media today will hit families hard.

“It seems the nightmare is coming true. The government is attempting to claw back its debt by savaging Australians support for health,” AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said.

“The measures will dramatically increase the cost of private health insurance for Australian families.

“And those families that do not keep their private health insurance will pay more to join the queue in the public system.

The AMA has urged government to ensure the importance Australians place on health is reflected in the budget process.

AMA President, Dr Rosanna Capolingua, said Australians consistently rank health as an issue that is of paramount concern.

“But we’ve seen little recent evidence that government understands this,” Dr Capolingua said.

“First health was inexplicably excluded from the stimulus packages, ignoring the fact that there is no better national infrastructure or productivity investment than health.

The AMA's 2009-10 Federal Budget Submission claims there is no better investment for nation building than in health.

AMA Federal Budget Submission 2009-10

The AMA's 2009-10 Federal Budget Submission claims there is no better investment for nation building than in health.

The AMA sees the 2008-09 Federal Budget as an opportunity for the incoming Commonwealth Government to reclaim its responsibility for health care and to strengthen the partnerships with those who share responsibility more broadly.