LIKE many country residents, the Liberal Opposition welcomes news the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) subsidy has doubled to 32 cents per kilometre.
PATS is a critical health reimbursement and this increase will provide much needed cost of living relief for regional South Australians who need to travel for medical treatment.
And that’s exactly why the former Liberal government committed to doubling this important subsidy back in March and I have been calling on the Labor Government to do the same.
As the shadow minister for regional health, I have tried to keep the spotlight on this much needed funding since I was elected.
Last May, in my first Question Time, I asked the Minister to deliver on our pledge to double the PATS.
He just scoffed.
Last June, I called for it to be in Labor’s first budget. Nothing.
Last September, Federal Labor ended the national fuel subsidy.
Our premier was silent.
Last month, I hosted my own regional health and transport forum because Labor had no plan.
Then on a sleepy New Year’s Day, Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton used a city paper to notify the good news to thousands of rural and remote South Australians.
Last year 13,000 patients accessed PATS.
Mr Picton, you have had 10 months.
Your party has had 18 years.
It’s been 22 years since the last significant increase.
What took you so long?
Penny Pratt, Member for Frome
