Axe the tax: remove GST from essential healthcare

Axe the tax: remove GST from essential healthcare

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Australians shouldn’t be paying tax on essential healthcare, but right now, they do.

Exercise physiologists are essential to help people manage conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental illness. But there’s a catch: it’s still taxed. 

Under current legislation, exercise physiology is still subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). That means Australians pay an extra 10% every time they see an exercise physiologist.  

What this means  

  • Higher costs for patients managing chronic illness and injury
  • Barriers to access for vulnerable communities 
  • Disincentives to use effective, preventive care 

Together, we can create ...

Australians shouldn’t be paying tax on essential healthcare, but right now, they do.

Exercise physiologists are essential to help people manage conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental illness. But there’s a catch: it’s still taxed. 

Under current legislation, exercise physiology is still subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). That means Australians pay an extra 10% every time they see an exercise physiologist.  

What this means  

  • Higher costs for patients managing chronic illness and injury
  • Barriers to access for vulnerable communities 
  • Disincentives to use effective, preventive care 

Together, we can create change. Here’s what you can do:  

  1. Sign the petition: Add your voice!

  2. Download and share our supporter pack.

  3. Share the campaign on social media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn and X  

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Sign now to axe the tax on essential healthcare

It’s time to remove GST from exercise physiology.

When GST was introduced in 2000, healthcare was made tax-free. Exercise physiology was left off the list because it was an emerging field.

Today, it's recognised by Medicare, the DVA, NDIS, and private health insurers — yet patients still pay an extra 10% every visit. 

We're calling on the Federal Government and Parliament to amend Section 38-10 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 by adding Exercise Physiology to the list of GST free health services.

It's a simple fix. Sign the petition to make it happen. 

To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled - the petition of the undersigned shows: 

The discrepancy in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, Subdivision 38-B- Health Section 38-10 that omits exercise physiology as a GST-free health service.  

The Goods and Services Tax commenced in 2000 with the intent that healthcare in Australia was to be GST free. The proposed amendment will ensure healthcare is affordable and accessible across the community.  

Your petitioners ask the Australian Senate and Federal Parliament to amend Section 38-10 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 to add exercise physiology to the schedule as a health service that will be exempt from the Goods and Services Tax.

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