Payroll tax is driving Dr Mukesh Haikerwal to charge patients $15 extra on standard consultations, which he plans to itemise on invoices as the “Premier’s Premium Payroll Tax on Health”. 

The former AMA president and Melbourne GP is talking to his software company, lawyers and accountants about updating his invoices to get his message across on why the fee hike is necessary.  

“We want to highlight why there is a hike in fees by going to where the pain is and explaining to people why they are being charged more,” he says.  

“This is an unexpected cost, and with a very thin margin in the practice, it has to be passed on.”