2026-07-03
Lines attributable to Andrew Braddock, Greens Member for Yerrabi:
"The Consumer Health Forum has been drawing attention to inconsistency between States and Territories on how people are charged for ambulance services, which can create bill shock, especially in regional areas.
"On the worst day in your life, you and your family shouldn't be having to worry about out-of-pocket costs for essential healthcare" said Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens spokesperson for Emergency Services. "The simplest solution is to just make ambulances free. Tasmania and Queensland already do this, why can't the ACT?
The ACT Auditor-General recently revealed that the ACT Government has a team of 5 full time-equivalent staff doing debt collection for ambulance services. 46% of fees are already being waived.
"The ACT Ambulance Service shouldn’t have to spend time and money chasing debts from people who can’t afford to pay ambulance fees" said Andrew Braddock.
"Abolishing the fees will be a significant relief for people already having to cope with the fallout of a medical emergency, and will allow the Ambulance Service focus on providing great care.
"Following the 2024 election, the ACT Greens secured a commitment from the Barr Government to 'establish a mechanism for people without private health insurance to not incur an ambulance call-out fee'. There has been no evident progress on this commitment to date from the Government."