Medicare Safety Net favours the rich and wealthy
by defendmedicare.info Saturday September 18, 2004 at 02:09 AM

The news on Health and Medicare this week was the fact that there was a Huge blow-out in Howard's Medicare safety net, and the safety net overwhelmingly favouring Liberal electorates with the iich cashing in on safety net. Other news included Professor John Deeble, Medicare architect, slamed the bidding for doctors as bad for Medicare. In the debate between Latham and Howard the Public 'Worm' responded to Medicare and health initiatives favouring Latham. In at least 4 instances local liberal candidates are refusing to debate on Medicare and health? Why?

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Friday 17 September 2004

Safety Net favours the rich and wealthy

On Monday it was announced there was a Huge blow-out in Howard's Medicare safety net (SMH 14/09/04). Figures released by Tony Abbott show that Medicare favours Liberal electorates (Age 17/09/04) and the Rich are cashing in on safety net (SMH 17/09/04).

The Health Minister, Tony Abbott, won't put a price on health (Courier Mail 17/09/04). At the National Press Club on Wednesday Abbott, Gillard battled it out over health. Ms Gillard was reported (Courier Mail 17/09/04) as saying:

"Why is it blowing out? Because it has in it the inherent flaw that everybody pointed to before it was put into operation, which is that the price signal in it is to inflate fees."

Medicare architect slams the Coalition Medicare rebate increase

Professor John Deeble slamed the bidding for doctors as bad for Medicare (Age 13/09/04). Tony Abbott claimed Health does not require reform (SMH 15/09/04) while the Prime Minister rejected state hospitals takeover plans (Australian 12/09/04).

The Public 'Worm' responds to Medicare

During the television debate between ALP and Coalition leaders, a Pledge on hospitals lifts Latham (SMH 13/09/04). Further policy plans being considered by the ALP may up the poll ante (Herald Sun 13/09/04).

Have the Liberals directed local candidates not to debate on Medicare?

In the seat of Brisbane the Democrats candidate, Dr Tracy Schrader, wants to debate health policies with the Liberal's high-profile candidate, former AMA Queensland president Dr Ingrid Tall.

Dr Schrader, former Doctors Reform Society national vice-president, told the Courier Mail (13/09/04)

"What this Government has done is reduced bulk-billing, pushed public money into the private health system, underfunded public hospitals and we're seeing that people can't find bulk-billing doctors or after-hours services and they're going to the casualty departments of public hospitals or just missing out."

Dr Schrader said Brisbane had the largest drop in bulk-billing rates in Australia over the last three years.

In the Melbourne seat of Wills a meeting on WHICH WAY FORWARD FOR MEDICARE? called by Defend and Extend Medicare, the liberal candidate Blair Hamilton sent apologies for not attending citing urgent party business.

In the seat of Deakin Liberal candidate Phillip Barresi also confirmed his inability to attend and debate the Coalition's policies on Medicare at a meeting organised by Defend and Extend Medicare for Friday 17 September.

In the seat of Bowman in Queensland the Liberal candidate, Andrew Laming, has rejected a debate on Medicare with Labor candidate Donna Webster. (Redland Bayside Bulletin 17/09/04)

Upcoming Melbourne event

Defend and Extend Medicare Rally MONDAY the 4th of OCTOBER at Lunchtime. State Library in Melbourne

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