John Brumby’s recalcitrance on health reform has led to some unexpected scrutiny of his own health record — and it’s not pretty. Opposition leader Ted Baillieu must be unable to believe his luck.
Health reform
Health reform debate ignores non-vote winning mental health issues
Mental health services are being ignored in the health reform debate in favour of sexy, headline-grabbing issues like aged care, hospital beds and surgery waiting times.
Brumby’s weapons of mass distraction on display at the Press Club
Victorian Premier John Brumby’s opposition to the federal government’s health reform plan is primarily a distraction from his own deepening political woes.
Crikey Says: Study notes for students of politics
Prime Minister Rudd has been imploring the states to “act in the national interest, and in the interests of working families …”. Because threatening a referendum on health reform is in the national interest, because they work so well.
Rudd’s new sparring partner: John Brumby
Daily media wrap: With Victorian Premier John Brumby refusing to budge on hospital reform, could Rudd’s biggest bruises in this election year come not from the pugilistic Abbot, but from one of his own Labor Party comrades?
Victoria no martyr on health
It’s no wonder John Brumby is the parochial laggard on health reform: he’s racking up an impressive record of bad policy.
Rudd’s re-election campaign powers up in Queensland
The Prime Minister’s re-election campaign is already underway up in north Queensland. The conservatives risk being left looking flat-footed.
Mungo MacCallum: Rudd, despite handing out health biscuits, has hard calls to make
Kevin Rudd has finally admitted what everyone else realised some time ago: fixing the health system is going to cost a huge amount of money and it’s no good pretending otherwise.
Brumby runs wild against Rudd
Daily media wrap: Victorian Premier John Brumby has gone rogue, slamming Rudd’s public hospital health reform policy and suggesting his own. Is Brumby just trying to show Canberra up or are his objections valid?
Rudd’s cruisin’ to give a bruisin’
Threatening a referendum is a risky move for a politician, but it might be a smart one for Rudd to coerce the states into passing his health reform takeover plans, writes Hamish Quinn.
Grattan: Rudd out to whack or woo?
Kevin Rudd is huffing and puffing about the federal health takeover but is a bit unsure whether he should blow the house down and force a recall, writes Michelle Grattan.
Diabetes announcement deserves more credit than the AMA’s giving it
There is much to praise in the federal government’s plans, announced yesterday, to improve the care of people with diabetes by establishing a system of voluntary enrolment with general practices, writes Professor Philip Davies.
You can’t punish people who make poor health choices
Why should we pick up the tab for people who overeat and smoke? It’s a common argument for those against health care. But personal responsibility is a messy and tricky issue, writes cardiologist Sandeep Hauhar.
Costello: We need to be cynical about climate change
Last year climate change was “the greatest moral challenge of our time”, this year Rudd’s realised that climate change is tricky politics and it’s easier to talk about health funding, says Peter Costello.
Savva: Abracadabra, it’s Howard’s magic disappearing health policy!
It’s obvious that Tony Abbott is in desperate need of a health policy. Could John Howard’s never-fully-announced 2007 policy help lift the Liberals’ curse on health? asks Nikka Savva.
The questions journos forgot to ask at the National Press Club
The National Press Club failed to really grill the prime minister about his health proposals — or lack of them, writes Melissa Sweet. Here are the questions they forgot to ask.
Crikey Says: Rudd has a plan, but it’s full of holes
Kevin Rudd is a man with a plan. Tony Abbott has none. And so the worm turned, the pundits pounced, and the Great Debate was declared an emphatic KO.
Abbott showed up for the wrong fight
Abbott the pugilist showed up to the boxing ring yesterday — only to find that his opponent was holding a love-in, talking about families and kids and late-night trips to the Emergency Department.
The health debate diagnosis: underwhelming
Croakey rounds up what the health commentariat is saying about yesterday’s big health debate between Rudd and Abbott. Looks like an acute case of “unimpressed”.
The health debate: all campaigning, no content
Bernard Keane adjudicates today’s big health care debate at the National Press Club: Rudd easily won the day, and takes home the “best speaker” award, but the loser was anyone looking for some actual substance.
Lies, lying liars and health funding graphs
When caught out, it’s a bad idea to admit you’re wrong. Especially on a website that your opponents are watching closely.
Expert advice for Rudd and Abbott ahead of the health debate
Health experts, including Professor Pat McGorry, Professor Ian Olver and Professor Kerin O’Dea, offer their advice to help the PM and his counterpart prep for the big health stoush.
Experts give last-minute debating prep tips
Some advice from health experts — including senior bureaucrats, Professor Gavin Mooney and Professor Glenn Salkeld to help the PM and Opposition leader with their last-minute preparations.
Rudd goes rogue
Rudd’s pulled a risky move by calling for the health smackdown, but he’s banking on Abbott being stuck talking about Howard days. Too bad Rudd failed to mention the treacherous plan to any of his staff beforehand, says Christine Jackman.
Essential: Voters back Rudd on health reform
Kevin Rudd retains strong support from voters for his health reform plan, according to Essential Research’s latest poll, and has a commanding lead on the issue that will dominate politics for the next week.
