Newsroom

October 18, 2024

Both major parties are under fire for failing to commit to expand the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) ahead of next week’s state election. Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto criticised their inaction, pointing out that while ambulance ramping dominates headlines, rural and remote patients are struggling to access specialist care due to inadequate travel support.

“While Labor and the LNP bicker about ambulance ramping in our major centres, they’ve completely turned their backs on the people who can’t even get themselves to the city to receive the specialist care they need," Mr. Dametto said.

“Ambulance ramping is a disgrace, but what about the critically ill people in regional Queensland who are hours away from the nearest major hospital and can't afford the travel costs?

“Since 2023, KAP have called for the PTSS to be doubled. That would be to increase the subsidy from 30 cents per kilometre to 60 cents per kilometre and boosting accommodation assistance from $70 to $140 per night.

“In the 2023-24 state budget, Labor delivered a pitiful 4 cents per kilometre increase and a $10 bump to accommodation support. The so-called ‘enormous difference’ was an insult to regional Queenslanders.

“The KAP will continue to call for the PTSS to be doubled from what it was, but we also want to see the eligibility radius reduced from 50 kilometres to 40 kilometres to ensure that more rural and semi-rural communities are included.^[1]

“People living just outside the current radius are unfairly excluded from the PTSS, even though they face the same barriers in accessing specialist care in Townsville. With the rising cost of living, many people have chosen to live outside the city for safety or affordability reasons, yet they are being penalised by the system. This must change.

“Patients in regional areas deserve equitable access to healthcare just as much as those in Brisbane. But it’s clear that the major parties are only interested in serving where their votes are most concentrated. Our regional communities are left to fend for themselves, with inadequate support and health infrastructure.

“We’re hearing loud and clear from voters passing through the polling booths, the two majors need to wake up to the realities faced by rural and regional Queenslanders. Those outside the southeast corner deserve better, and KAP will continue to fight for them every step of the way."