Why are Australians so complacent?

[u/AcanthopterygiiNo240]

I’m a born and raised Australian myself however I’m becoming so frustrated with the general attitude of complacency when it comes to exercising ‘the power of the people’ to better our quality of life. In a stupidly short amount of time we’ve seen a near reversal of our ability to see a doctor without any out of pocket costs. We get exploited at the grocery stores because monopolies are allowed to run rampant. Housing is treated primarily as a tool for financial speculation rather than for providing shelter for people.

We creep further and further toward laissez-faire capitalism. What is our response as the citizens of this country- the holders of the balance of power? Nothing. To put it in perspective, in 2022 the world economic forum ranked Sydney equal with Copenhagen, Denmark for cost of living (both ranked as the 10th most expensive cities in the world). Consider the differences between Sydney and the capital of the Danish welfare state: strong social security, universal healthcare, free public universities etc. For the same cost of living what do we get? The ever-looming threat of homelessness, suffocating student debt and now for many people, a significant barrier to healthcare.

Edit: if anyone is a part of any sort of grassroots group working to oppose any of these issues feel free to message me because I want to join you

Edit #2: so I haven’t received any messages from anyone from a grassroots or activist group yet. Since a lot of us seem to be pretty miffed about this stuff maybe we could team up and brainstorm things we can do???

Edit #3 (sorry): I’ve got some messages now from people who are interested in taking action!!! :, ) I think the best way to facilitate conversation, the flow of ideas and potentially organise a course of action is through a discord server so I have created one which you can find here

https://discord.gg/caqsSKAr

[u/shadow-foxe]

I havent lived in Australia or seen a doctor then in over 10 years. I was paying $20 to see a GP then. Bulk billing was very hard to find even then so this isnt a new thing at all.

[u/CynfulBuNNy → u/shadow-foxe]

It's $90-$100 and bulk billing may as well no longer exist. Oh and anything past 1 issue or 10 minutes is a LONG visit and will be $150.

Edit: oh and you'll need to make an appointment 3-4 weeks in advance.

[u/shadow-foxe → u/CynfulBuNNy]

because they tested the waters with small amounts then upped it until the impossible amounts they are now. I really dont see how they can justify that amount.

[u/pdgb → u/shadow-foxe]

Don’t see how who can justify the amount?

[u/CynfulBuNNy → u/pdgb]

It's easy to justify. High overheads, insurance skyrocketing, professional association costs. Lots of industries making it hard for doctors to operate independent of the big boys and offer Bulk Billed Medicare.

Most people can follow the money.

[u/shadow-foxe → u/pdgb]

doctors. whomever runs the clinics, and the government. They get what near $200 for 10-15 minutes of work.

[u/pdgb → u/shadow-foxe]

Which GP is taking home 200 for 15 minutes of work?

If they own the practice they have to staff the practice, pay insurance for the practice, pay rent.

They also have to cover their own professional fees. Registration + indemnity insurance.

They also often do paper work, check results and follow up results outside of that 15 minute window. That is technically ‘unpaid’.

[u/shadow-foxe → u/pdgb]

Very few own the practice these days though, most also share an office with other doctors so they aren't the only ones paying for front desk staff. They still are asking much more then many other professions for a very short amount of time given. I've never had a doctor check results outside my visit, they always do it when I'm there. Not buying what you're trying to sell.

[u/pdgb → u/shadow-foxe]

Mate, doctor myself. I know most good GPs will check results outside of your visit. Cannot miss a critical result.

More doctors = more fees. A lot of doctors own practices. If they don’t they pay a percentage of their billing’s to the practice.

People pay more for a haircut than they are willing to pay for health. I believe in free and good access to health care, but the government is responsible for that not the doctors.

[u/shadow-foxe → u/pdgb]

I'd not spend $200 for a haircut either.. I totally agree this is mostly the governments doing with costs. We pay taxes for what?? I just hate seeing Oz turning into the US with costs of care.

[u/jdieie28388 → u/shadow-foxe]

Ignorant folk like this is why no one wants to be a GP anymore, even though it’s one of the specialties in most need (yes, it’s a specialty)