Axe the tax: remove GST from essential healthcare

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

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

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

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

Email your local MP

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Subject:

I'm writing to you as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist to ask for your support to remove GST from exercise physiology services.

When the GST Act was introduced in 1999, exercise physiology was an emerging profession, so it wasn't included on the list of GST-free health services. Since then, our profession has matured significantly, recognised under Medicare since 2006, and now integrated across the NDIS, DVA, private health insurance and workers' compensation schemes.

Exercise physiology remains the only Medicare-recognised allied health profession still subject to GST. It is essential to help people manage conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental illness.

Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), our peak body, has launched a national petition, Axe the Tax on Health. The petition is aimed at calling on the Minister for Health, the Hon Mark Butler MP, to table a Determination amending Section 38-10 of the GST Act to add exercise physiology to the list of GST-exempt health services.

This issue is about affordability of an essential health service that helps millions of Australians. Let me know your position on this issue, and whether you'd be willing to raise it with the Minister.

Thank you for your time and support.

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