The Hidden Tax on Health: Why Exercise Physiology Deserves a Fair Go
There’s something deeply ironic about taxing people for trying to get healthier. Yet, that’s exactly what’s happening in Australia with exercise physiologists—a group of healthcare professionals who are essentially being penalized for providing essential services. Personally, I think this is one of those issues that, once you scratch the surface, reveals a broader disconnect between policy and public health priorities.
Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) has launched a campaign to ‘axe the tax’ on exercise physiology services, which currently incur a 10% GST. What makes this particularly fascinating is that most other health services in Australia are GST-exempt. From my perspective, this isn’t just about money—it’s about equity. Why should someone with chronic illness or injury face an additional financial barrier to accessing care that could transform their quality of life?
The Unseen Value of Exercise Physiology
Exercise physiologists aren’t just personal trainers with a fancier title. They’re allied health professionals who design tailored exercise programs to manage chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis, and obesity. One thing that immediately stands out is how their work bridges the gap between medical treatment and everyday life. Take Jenny Dogue, for example, whose story is both inspiring and revealing. After working with her son, exercise physiologist Tim Dogue, she regained the ability to walk upstairs and garden—activities most of us take for granted.
What many people don’t realize is that the benefits of exercise physiology extend far beyond the physical. Jenny’s story highlights the social and emotional gains, too. The camaraderie of group workouts, the shared excitement over health improvements—these are the intangible benefits that make this field so vital. If you take a step back and think about it, this isn’t just healthcare; it’s community-building.
The Tax That Doesn’t Add Up
Here’s where things get frustrating. Exercise physiology was a relatively new field when the GST was introduced in 2000, which likely explains why it wasn’t included in the exemption list. But fast forward to today, and it’s a recognized part of Australia’s healthcare system, endorsed by Medicare, the NDIS, and private health insurers. The tax, however, remains unchanged.
This raises a deeper question: Why hasn’t the policy caught up with reality? ESSA’s chief executive, Katie Lyndon, calls it ‘unconscionable,’ and I couldn’t agree more. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, passing on this tax to chronically ill Australians feels like adding insult to injury. It’s not just unfair—it’s counterproductive.
The Broader Implications
This issue isn’t just about exercise physiologists; it’s about how we value preventive and rehabilitative care. Chronic diseases are a growing burden on healthcare systems globally, and exercise physiology offers a cost-effective solution. Yet, by taxing these services, we’re inadvertently discouraging people from accessing them.
A detail that I find especially interesting is how this tax reflects a broader trend in healthcare policy: the tendency to prioritize reactive treatment over proactive prevention. What this really suggests is that we’re still not fully recognizing the long-term value of keeping people out of hospitals in the first place.
What’s Next?
Senator David Pocock is set to table a petition in federal parliament, which is a step in the right direction. But will it be enough? The Australian Treasury’s response remains to be seen, but I’m cautiously optimistic. This campaign isn’t just about axing a tax—it’s about redefining what we consider ‘essential’ healthcare.
In my opinion, this is a no-brainer. If we’re serious about tackling chronic disease and improving quality of life, we need to remove barriers, not create them. Exercise physiology deserves a fair go, not just for the professionals, but for the thousands of Australians who rely on their services.
What this debate really boils down to is a question of priorities. Are we willing to invest in health before illness? Personally, I think the answer is clear. Let’s axe the tax—not just for exercise physiologists, but for the future of healthcare itself.
