Jacqui Lambie loses out after your tax money is spent on teddy bears for politicians

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has condemned the use of $3,000 in public money to send teddy bears to politicians promoting key health policies of the Albanian government.

The little brown teddy bears wear a T-shirt that says “Medicare Urgent Care Clinic,” promoting the administration’s push to open 58 urgent care clinics across the country.

However, the hugs did not impress Senator Lambie, who said the $3,000 could have been better spent helping people who could no longer afford to go to the doctor.

“That’s where your money went, to these bears,” she said in a Facebook video.

“That would have been quite a few visits for Tasmanians to see their GP without having to spend their own money.”

The senator also noted that it was not a native bear.

‘You know what’s even funnier, because they think it’s important that the production is made in this country China,” she said.

In the post accompanying the video, Senator Lambie called for a shake-up in bulk billing, reducing the number of primary care physicians willing to bill all or part of visits to Medicare.

“Surely a better way to celebrate Medicare’s anniversary would be to change the bulk billing rules so it works for all Tasmanians who can’t afford a visit to the doctor,” she wrote.

The bears were also the subject of a Senate estimates hearing, where LNP Senator Anne Ruston said they had cost a total of $4,000, or $16 each.

Health Department officials wondered whether this and the large cake to celebrate the Medicare anniversary were money well spent in advance.

Those who commented on Senator Lambie’s post agreed with her that the giveaway was a waste of taxpayer money.

“It wasn’t until I worked in Canberra that I saw the waste surrounding the ‘next idea’ by politicians and the public sector,” one person wrote.

“There are people who are having a hard time, but Canberra is really in its own bubble.”

“Good thing you said it,” another commented.

‘In addition to teddy bears, there is often wine and chocolate, or free tickets… all at taxpayer expense.’

One Australian suggested a better idea for the toy.

“They could have at least given the bears to children in the hospital instead of themselves,” that person said.

“What a damn joke when we’re all struggling,” another commented.

Some of those who responded said bulk billing GPs were difficult to find.

“Bulk billing must be made available to all Australians. Many cannot now afford to visit their GP. What do we pay taxes for?’ wrote one person

“Many doctors’ clinics here in Geelong Victoria stopped bulk billing last year and now out of more than 20 clinics here there are only four that still do so,” said another.

‘I have to drive more than 30 minutes on highways and very busy roads to get to my doctor, which is impossible for me to get there when I am very sick.

‘I have forever had chronic medical conditions that require me to see my doctor regularly, but that has now become impossible.

‘There is no one around me who thinks the bulk bills and co-payments are too high to pay on top of my medicines.’

Bulk billing rates have fallen seven percent over the past year and have continued to decline as primary care practices charge higher rates to supplement Medicare rebates.

Despite declining bulk billing rates, urgent care clinics are not designed to serve primary care physicians Ochre Health chairman Ross Lamplugh, who runs an urgent care clinic in Hobart,” told the ABC in October.

It is not intended for routine or preventive health care, explains Ocher Health chairman Ross Lamplugh, who runs an urgent care clinic in Hobart.

‘If a patient shows up here looking for a script extension, he or she will be referred to the GP or our GP practice.’