At last some common sense from at least one economist.
It's common sense as we all know - or should know - that there is 'no such thing as a free lunch'.
No one wants to pay for other people's folly - including avoidable hospital fees (whether for smoking-related diseases, eating or drinking themselves to death or chronic disease or anti-vax stupidity)!
November 29, 2021 — 12.00am
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One of Australia’s leading economists is urging the federal government to consider slugging unvaccinated people with higher Medicare fees to help repair the budget and pay for the pandemic’s ongoing toll on the healthcare system.
Independent economist Saul Eslake said there are many cases in which people are required to pay more due to choices they make affecting others and this should be applied to those who choose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine without an exemption.
Anti-vaccination protesters in Hyde Park, Sydney on November 27.CREDIT:JAMES ALCOCK
“Non-vaccinated people could pay a higher Medicare levy in the same way as those who earn above a certain level have to pay more if they don’t have private health,” he said.
“If they choose not to be vaccinated that’s their choice, but it imposes a higher burden on the medical system.”
Nationally, more than 92 per cent of people over 16 years old have had at least one dose of the vaccine and about 87 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Mr Eslake said the amount raised through increasing the levy on those who have not been vaccinated would be small, but it was one of several measures the government could use to improve the budget bottom line.
