PAYROLL TAX STING ON QUEENSLAND GPs A CASE OF DAYLIGHT ROBBERY THAT SPELLS DOOM FOR BULK BILLING

Treasurer Cameron Dick is claiming it's not a tax grab, that it's just a case of GPs in Queensland not wanting to pay more tax.

But I think a majority in the "court of public opinion" might well reach a different conclusion in regards to the monumental spike in payroll tax which the state government, via the Queensland Revenue Office, has suddenly lumbered GPs with, in a brazenly predatory manner. 

Queensland is not New South Wales. Why should a NSW Civil and Adminstrative Ruling, whatever that was, dictate and determine  payroll tax policy which is imposed by the government in Queensland? 

Payroll tax is a state tax. Dick did not have to follow the lead and precedent set by any tax ruling in another state. Yet he did, abruptly, without any consultation.

As reported, some GP practices have suddenly been hit with retrospective payroll tax debts totalling in the millions, not thousands of dollars. 

Does Dick have some delusional idea that forcing patients to go straight to emergency departments in hospitals instead of GPs, who no longer will be bulk billing, is the way to bail the already overloaded and crippled Queensland emergency hospital system out of the huge quagmire it's already in?

The truth is that there is a minority of people out there who you could rightfully say are hypochondriac types who are choking up the GP system, as in, milking and bleeding bulk billing dry. A minority is abusing "that system".

With that in mind, here is a great idea for Cameron Dick. Why doesn't the state government ditch this entire over the top GP payroll tax sting and instead impose a $5 levy on all GP consultations in Queensland?

A state levy, totally seperate from Medicare and anything federally administered.

Hopefully common sense is still alive in some form and Dick actually listens.