E-Petition

The Petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House we the undersigned, call on the Queensland Government to urgently reform the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) to ensure equitable access to essential health care for families living with chronic and complex health conditions and disabilities in rural and regional Queensland. The current PTSS has remained unchanged for over a decade and no longer meets the needs of families living outside major centres. Rising costs mean families often incur thousands of dollars in expenses each year just to attend essential medical appointments. Reform is essential to ensure health equity and dignity for all Queenslanders, regardless of postcode. Families should not face financial hardship or family separation to access life-saving care. We urge Parliament to act immediately to deliver a fair, practical, and modern travel subsidy scheme for all Queenslanders who need it.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to 

• commit to a public and time-bound review of the PTSS;
• increase subsidy rates to reflect the real cost of accommodation, fuel, and travel;
• ensure consistent and transparent eligibility criteria across all hospital and health services; and
• expand the scheme to cover travel for participation in clinical trials, which are vital for improving health outcomes.