Axe the tax: remove GST from essential healthcare

On 13 October, a petition was tabled in the Parliament of Australia to Axe the Tax on Health with 25,632 signatures, demonstrating strong support to remove GST from exercise physiology services.

ESSA’s work engaging with government and key decision-makers continues and that’s where we need your help.

We need you to email your local federal MP using this 60-second tool to inform them of the tabling and to raise the issue with the Hon Mark Butler requesting a response.

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

Exercise physiologists are essential healthcare helping people manage conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental illness.

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

Here is a useful briefing document to assist in conversations with your MP.

On 13 October, a petition was tabled in the Parliament of Australia to Axe the Tax on Health with 25,632 signatures, demonstrating strong support to remove GST from exercise physiology services.

ESSA’s work engaging with government and key decision-makers continues and that’s where we need your help.

We need you to email your local federal MP using this 60-second tool to inform them of the tabling and to raise the issue with the Hon Mark Butler requesting a response.

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

Exercise physiologists are essential healthcare helping people manage conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental illness.

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

Here is a useful briefing document to assist in conversations with your MP.

Email your local MP

Find your local rep

Subject:

I’m writing to ask for your support to make healthcare more accessible by removing GST from exercise physiology services.

On 13 October, a petition was tabled in the Parliament of Australia to Axe the Tax on Health with 25,632 signatures, demonstrating strong support to remove GST from exercise physiology services.

Exercise physiology remains the only Medicare-recognised allied health profession subject to GST. Removing this tax would make care more affordable and support four key Government priorities:

- Ease cost-of-living pressures by removing a tax barrier to essential healthcare.

- Strengthen Medicare and hospital capacity by helping people manage their health outside hospital. Over three years, exercise physiology led to an estimated 60,355 avoided hospital admissions, 413,009 avoided bed-days and 38,618 avoided emergency department presentations across six health conditions. (Deloitte Access Economics)

- Better manage chronic conditions by supporting prevention, early intervention, multidisciplinary care and equitable access in line with the Government’s National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions 2026–2035.

- Support a stronger economy, with exercise physiology leading to an estimated $1.09 billion in net economic benefits across the six health conditions, delivering $2.50 in benefits for every dollar invested over three years. (Deloitte Access Economics)

My ask

With the petition now tabled, I’m asking for your support by raising this issue directly with the Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP, asking whether the Government will table a Determination amending Section 38-10 of the GST Act to add exercise physiology to the list of GST-exempt health services.

Please let me know if you would be willing to raise this with the Minister.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

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