Federal health minister Tony Abbott is exposed on national TV as a liar : Melbourne Indymedia

George Pell has "form" for undermining the Labor Party. In the 1988 federal election, Pell supported John Howard's proposal for a Goods and Services Tax.

In Sepember 2004, Pell issued a statement attacking the Labor Party's plan to give priority funding to the POORER Catholic schools and other needy independent schools (instead of to Scotch College, Melbourne Grammar and a few other wealthy schools). By a strange co-incidence, it was revealed last night that Cardinal Pell had a visit from federal health minister Tony Abbott (a conservative Catholic) just before Pell issued this statement (in conjunction with another Catholic archbishop and two Anglican archbishops):-

Now read this excerpt from ABC TV's Lateline, Thursday 30 September 2004:-

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2004/s1210843.htm

TONY JONES: Tony Abbott on another matter, have you met Archbishop Pell during the election campaign?

TONY ABBOTT: Not that I can recall.

TONY JONES: Not that you can recall, because we believe that you've had at least one meeting with him quite recently?

You don't recall that?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, when?
Where?

TONY JONES: At the presbytery in Sydney.

TONY ABBOTT: Ah, actually now that you do mention it, I did met with Cardinal Pell.

So what?

Why shouldn't I meet with Cardinal Pell?

TONY JONES: Why couldn't you recall meeting him, I think, 10 days ago?

TONY ABBOTT: Look, whenever it was, so what?

Why shouldn't I meet Cardinal Pell.

Cardinal Pell is a fine man.

He made a very good statement the other day about the Labor Party's policy, why shouldn't I meet with him?

TONY JONES: Well, the reason we're asking about this, obviously, because your behind-the-scenes activities in the '98 election were quite renowned and I'm wondering is there any possibility that in your discussions with Cardinal Pell which you couldn't recall a moment ago - in those discussions did you actually bring up the issue of private schools?

TONY ABBOTT: Nup.

TONY JONES: Not at all?

TONY ABBOTT: Nup.

TONY JONES: What issues were discussed?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, Tony, I may well have been going to confession to Cardinal Pell, I may well have been seeking pastoral counselling from Cardinal Pell.

What's so sinister about that?

Cardinal Pell is one of the greatest churchmen that Australia has seen.

I am a very imperfect Catholic.

Why shouldn't I go and seek counsel?

Why shouldn't I go and trespass on the time occasionally of someone like Cardinal Pell.

If you spent more time with Cardinal Pell, your life might be more interesting.

TONY JONES: I haven't spent any time at all with Cardinal Pell as it turns out, but that's beside the point.

You're a political operative and the question is not whether he gave you counselling but whether you gave him counselling because only a short time after your visit out came this letter signed by two Archbishops condemning Labor's education policy?

TONY ABBOTT: So you think that I put words into the mouth not only of Cardinal Pell but of Archbishop Jensen?

TONY JONES: I'm simply asking whether that was a matter of your conversations which a moment ago you didn't recall?

TONY ABBOTT: That's a bizarre suggestion.

TONY JONES: Tony Abbott, we'll have to leave it there, thank you very much for joining us tonight.

TONY ABBOTT: Thanks.

It seems Tony Abbott is having a lot of trouble remembering things recently.

The same day he appeared on the 7.30 Report (30 September), he also did an interview on ABC Radio program PM with reporter Nick Grimm. It seems that several weeks ago the head of Catholic Health, Francis Sullivan, came to him with some well developed ideas - the basis for Medicare Gold - now adopted by the Labor Party. Francis says that he received a positive response from Tony Abbott for the Government.

Now Abbott is denying he gave any indication of a positive response. Here is the transcript excerpt:
---------------------------------------------
MARK COLVIN: As you've just heard there is some dispute about the question of whether Catholic Health Australia had recently discussed the Medicare Gold concept with Health Minister Tony Abbott and with the Federal Government.

And Mr Francis Sullivan from Catholic Health Australia says that he received a positive response from the Government. It raises the question of why the Coalition is now so adamant that the scheme is unworkable.

Tony Abbott has been speaking to Nick Grimm.

NICK GRIMM: Tony Abbott, Francis Sullivan from Catholic Health Australia says you were particularly keen on the Medicare Gold concept when he raised it with you not so long ago. What's changed?

TONY ABBOTT: I'm always polite to people, particularly Francis, but being polite about something doesn't mean that you actually agree with it. Francis gave me a package of material about six weeks ago from memory, asked me to have a look at it and ring him – I did call him. I was polite but non-committal.

NICK GRIMM: Well, Francis Sullivan says he left his discussions with you with the distinct impression that a scheme like this, in his words, would, quote "become part of the health landscape"?

TONY ABBOTT: Well, I think it was wishful thinking on Francis' part. But look, the thing is this: what he's proposed and what the Labor Party has apparently embraced is a massive change to our health care system, and no sensible government and no sensible political party reads a document that's put in by an outsider, ticks off on it in a couple of days and then says bang, yeah let's do it.
--------------------------------------------------

See how Abbott changes the topic? The rest of the transcript makes for interesting reading to. There is actually a fair amount of support for the Medicare Gold concept from doctors, private hospital operators and consumers.

Tony Abbott denies having approved of Medicare Gold concept
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1210743.htm

Further references:
-------------------

Francis Sullivan's claims about Tony Abbott:
Mr Sullivan claimed he had received positive assurances after he had put the concept to Mr Abbott several weeks ago, but the Minister described his own response as merely "polite".
http://www.cathnews.com/news/410/1.php

Francis Sullivan:
"The Government has had our document since August. (Tony Abbott) said it was interesting, he knew I was discussing it with the policy people inside the Government. They thought the concept was at least worth a really hard look at."

Yesterday, Mr Abbott's office was at pains to point out that the Health Minister was "sceptical" of the Catholic Health Australia plan, but it would be fascinating to know whether or not the idea was ever costed by the Howard Government.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10937142%255E36596,00.html

Passionate and articulate, Mr Sullivan was also conveniently indiscreet, telling assembled media pundits that the Health Minister, Tony Abbott, had also been briefed on the policy and had been "very positive".

Abbott's denial yesterday, saying that he had been sceptical and "non-committal", hardly matched Mr Howard's high-octane denunciations.
http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/30/1096527870954.html

Its politics! Everyone does back door deals. Everyone conspires. Yes even the Greens and Dems. We live in the second worst system… SFW?

How about something positive like say an article on the Election Tracker kids.

francis sullivan - put religion before politics and you'll lose out. your ambitions should rest where you are.

abbott - take a pill before interviews.

Tony Abbott's discussion with Tony Jones shows that he owes as much allegiance to the Pope as he does to the Australian Head of State. Section 44 (i) of the Australian Constitude makes persons with an allegiance to a foreign state ineligible for membership of Australian Parliament. The Pope is the head of state of the Vatican. Tony Abbott is ipso facto ineligible to be an MP.