I am an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and a member of the Australian Association for Exercise and Sports Science. I have signed this petition today to add my support to removing the GST on my services in line with other allied health professionals in Australia. At present Exercise Physiologists are the only health professionals that are registered under Medicare but continue to attract GST. The Commonwealth Government have consistently held the position that commonly utilised health services be GST exempt. As it stands of the 14 registered allied health professions, Exercise Physiology is the 5th most widely utilised service. This administration oversight causes additional administrative complexity and burden in my business. For example, a patient with Diabetes who is referred under an Enhanced Primary Care Plan by their general practitioner to individual and group Dietitian and Exercise Physiology services will pay a standard gap when seeing a dietitian but the gap to see the exercise physiologist will attract GST for equivalent services under exactly the same program. This causes a great deal of confusion and dissonance with my clients. My understanding is that the Governments position was, and continues to be that commonly used health services were not intended to attract GST. Our organisation (AAESS)has strong industry-wide support on this matter and we have no doubt that public opinion is also unequivocal. Please help us correct this administrative oversight and assist my small business.

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