What to make of Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s recent back-down on plans to overhaul diabetes care? Robert Wells, director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and cirector of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute at the ANU, is not impressed by the delays.
Nicola Roxon
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Hinch hits back at Greer’s Roxon death claims
A bitter stoush has erupted over the 1973 death of rock journalism legend Lillian Roxon, after Germaine Greer implied veteran broadcaster Derryn Hinch had contributed to her premature demise.
Penberthy: Roxon the party pooper
Do-gooder Health minister Nicola Roxon is ruining it for all Australians who want to destroy their health with booze, bacon and cigarettes, says David Penberthy
Health continues to top the charts
On top of the public hospital reform spending already announced with the COAG agreement, the 2010 Budget invests a further $2.2 billion over four years in health and hospital reform.
Crikey Says: A ‘planned negotiation process’ — so that’s what it was…
So that’s that whole health reform deal was. A “planned negotiation process” that started and ended with posturing by premiers who needed to appear macho to their constituencies.
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.
Politicians should be fit, and by god we should know it
After Tony Abbott’s 14 hour ironman triumph on Sunday, Nicola Roxon had the nerve to suggest that Abbott’s fitness regime was eroding his time for policy formation. Not true. Abbott’s continuing Australia’s fine tradition of sporty politicians, writes Kim Crow.
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.
Roxon rocks on and gives Health a genuine feel
Nicola Roxon may be an economically illiterate Labor hack, but she knows how to answer interview questions and stick to her talking points, which is more than can be said for Peter Dutton.
Top 10 health reform questions for the PM
While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today is unveiling his government’s plans for health reform, what should journalists be asking him and ministers Nicola Roxon and Warren Snowdon in the days that follow? Melissa Sweet reports.
Don’t let the evidence get in the way of evidence-based policy
Time for another expensive anti-drugs campaign aimed at teenagers. Let’s hope the real problem drug users see it.
Expert calls for health inequalities to be on the election agenda
Successive Australian governments have failed to tackle the social and economic inequities that result in some people having shorter, unhealthier lives than others, writes Melissa Sweet.
Can we blame the latest private health insurance hikes on a “lazy” Government?
It’s no surprise that private health insurance premiums continue to rise. What is surprising is that more questions aren’t being asked about the merits of such extravagant public subsidy.
must read 
My life as an unqualified, untrained government insider
Former speech writer for Nicola Roxon, Myles Peterson, spills on the secret life of working in a government department. From wasting public money on “training”, to launching large health reforms with no prior planning, the state of our public service is deeply worrying.
The $120m sequel: swine flu II
We’re back to the swine flu scare stories, all looking rather embarrassed in the light of day. But who really benefits from immunisation and are there greater health priorities?
Health reform dithering risks a desperate and dateless government
COAG has reneged on its obligations to the Australian health sector, hastily concocting a “plan to make a plan” some time next year, writes Jennifer Doggett.
Roxon: I’m not a nanny and I won’t nag
Get ready for a new ‘Life Be In It’ campaign, with Nicola Roxon pimping a new agency aimed at preventative health issues. Like dealing with obesity, smoking and alcohol issues.
Self-regulation of pharma industry isn’t working
A forum of experts last night warned that self-regulation by the pharmaceutical industry was not effective, writes Dr Ken Harvey.
What Roxon failed to mention about the swine flu vaccination
Health Minister Nicola Roxon is busy peddling the benefits of the swine flu vaccine, while Croakey examines the past perils of health ministers spruiking pharmaceuticals.
Parliamentary sisters are doing it for themselves
The feminisation of the Rudd government “seems to be the end of tokenism, with women pollies no longer a novelty”, writes Dr Paul Williams. Will Julia Gillard and Nicola Roxon be battling it out for first female PM?
All this nagging, Nicola, isn’t making us thin
Health Minister Nicola Roxon thinks we’re too fat, smoke too much and drink too much. But don’t worry, she’s got a solution: she’s going to nag us to death instead. Even if research suggests it won’t work.
Senate rebate vote a blow to cost-effective health policy
Private health insurance is one of the most inefficient and expensive mechanisms for paying for health care. It’s time to pension it off, writes health policy analyst Jennifer Doggett.
