Hockey slammed for comparing GP fee with cost of beer

Labor has lashed out at Treasurer Joe Hockey's comments comparing a $7 GP co-payment with the cost of a beer.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey. (AAP)

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“One of the things that quite astounds me is some people are screaming about the $7 co-payment,” Treasurer Joe Hockey told ABC Radio this morning.

“You can spend just over $3 on a middy of beer, so that’s two middies of beer to go to the doctor."

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said Treasurer Hockey's comments showed he did not understand the challenges Australians faced.

 

"Joe Hockey and the Abbott government - you are out of touch with Australians if you think repeated visits to the doctor with the new tax, co-payment... if you think this is just a casual matter then this is very worrying for ordinary Australians because it confirms that the people who wrote Tuesday night's budget have no clue about the real world in which the rest of us of live," he said.