❓ Ms. Beard questions the Minister for Health about low PATS rates in WA compared to other states, considering the vast distances regional patients travel. The Minister responds by highlighting recent increases to the fuel subsidy and other cost-of-living measures.
AnsweredQoN 486Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL SCHEME — SUBSIDIES
486. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the patient assisted travel scheme in Western Australia, which
provides vital support for regional and remote patients who require
travel assistance to access essential medical services that are often not
available in the regions.
(1) Can the
minister explain why Western Australia's PATS rates are still so low
relative to other states and territories when regional Western Australian
patients have much further to travel?
(2) How does the
government justify these low rates in light of WA's economic standing
and the significant revenue generated from our natural resources?
486. Ms M. BEARD to the Minister for Health:
I
refer to the patient assisted travel scheme in Western Australia, which
provides vital support for regional and remote patients who require
travel assistance to access essential medical services that are often not
available in the regions.
(1) Can the
minister explain why Western Australia's PATS rates are still so low
relative to other states and territories when regional Western Australian
patients have much further to travel?
(2) How does the
government justify these low rates in light of WA's economic standing
and the significant revenue generated from our natural resources?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member very much for the question. It gives us an opportunity to talk
about the incredible cost-of-living
announcement that was made on the weekend to support regional patients
accessing health care, with a 50 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy
for the patient assisted travel scheme. Like the Leader of the House, I am
still waiting for my thankyou card from the member for North West Central for
increasing that fuel subsidy. This is an important increase. We understand that
there are cost-of-living pressures. We
understand that health care is essential and that access to health care is part
of the cost-of-living measures. Although we provide a fully accessible
public health system, we know that access for regional residents can be a challenge.
That is why it was under this government that we saw a substantial increase to the accommodation allowance by 83 per cent for
those eligible under PATS. We continue to build on that by lifting the
kilometre rebate for the PATS fuel subsidy from 16� to 26�. That is a 50 per cent
increase.
Compare that with the increase—the
only increase—delivered by the Liberal and National Parties when they
were in government in 2009. The Liberal–National government's
increase to the fuel subsidy was three
measly cents. This is a genuine and meaningful increase for people accessing
health care. For patients making a trip to Albany, the rebate will go
from $131 to $212. For Geraldton, it will increase by $85 from $136 to $221.
For Kalgoorlie, it will go from $190 to $309 and from Port Hedland, it will go
from $545 to $885. This is a meaningful
increase and it is on top of the increase in the Country Age Pension Fuel Card subsidy to $675 a year. It is on top of delivering on the state and
commonwealth electricity rebates of $750 a year. It is also on top of the
regional airfare zone caps, which this government is responsible for. This
government also provided the WA student assistance payments for people with
school-aged children, and greater access to health care with oral
contraceptives and UTI treatment for women with pharmacists to save on paying for
GP appointments. We are very proud of our record on cost-of-living payments. I am
surprised to hear criticism from the member for North West Central, who has
stood up and advocated for an increase in the fuel subsidy. Again, I await the
thankyou and congratulations in the post!
thank the member very much for the question. It gives us an opportunity to talk
about the incredible cost-of-living
announcement that was made on the weekend to support regional patients
accessing health care, with a 50 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy
for the patient assisted travel scheme. Like the Leader of the House, I am
still waiting for my thankyou card from the member for North West Central for
increasing that fuel subsidy. This is an important increase. We understand that
there are cost-of-living pressures. We
understand that health care is essential and that access to health care is part
of the cost-of-living measures. Although we provide a fully accessible
public health system, we know that access for regional residents can be a challenge.
That is why it was under this government that we saw a substantial increase to the accommodation allowance by 83 per cent for
those eligible under PATS. We continue to build on that by lifting the
kilometre rebate for the PATS fuel subsidy from 16� to 26�. That is a 50 per cent
increase.
Compare that with the increase—the
only increase—delivered by the Liberal and National Parties when they
were in government in 2009. The Liberal–National government's
increase to the fuel subsidy was three
measly cents. This is a genuine and meaningful increase for people accessing
health care. For patients making a trip to Albany, the rebate will go
from $131 to $212. For Geraldton, it will increase by $85 from $136 to $221.
For Kalgoorlie, it will go from $190 to $309 and from Port Hedland, it will go
from $545 to $885. This is a meaningful
increase and it is on top of the increase in the Country Age Pension Fuel Card subsidy to $675 a year. It is on top of delivering on the state and
commonwealth electricity rebates of $750 a year. It is also on top of the
regional airfare zone caps, which this government is responsible for. This
government also provided the WA student assistance payments for people with
school-aged children, and greater access to health care with oral
contraceptives and UTI treatment for women with pharmacists to save on paying for
GP appointments. We are very proud of our record on cost-of-living payments. I am
surprised to hear criticism from the member for North West Central, who has
stood up and advocated for an increase in the fuel subsidy. Again, I await the
thankyou and congratulations in the post!
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