Qantas tells Crikey we got it wrong and they got it right. Plus, Crikey readers weigh in on health, election speculation dates and young conservatives in Queensland.
Public hospital reform
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Qantas vs. the volcano
Will premiers vote against the PM and the people?
Daily media wrap: The fight between Kevin Rudd and state leaders over public reform enters its final round today, when the two sides butt heads at the COAG talks. But a new Nielsen poll has revealed voters are backing Rudd. Will it prove a last-minute game changer?
Nielsen: Voters back Rudd on health (even in the States don’t)
The latest Nielsen poll has Labor’s lead slipping to just 51-49. But it’s not all bad news for the PM: with state premiers in Canberra today to vote on (and against) Rudd’s hospital reforms, the poll reveals the majority of voters actually back the Federal plans.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Female workers at a super disadvantage
One Crikey reader argues that changes to superannuation rules works against women. Plus, at least John Brumby sticks up for his states and the mess of NT public hospitals.
Richardson: John Brumby’s second front
An election year isn’t a good time to be getting on the wrong side of democracy. John Brumby should probably try to settle this dispute as quickly and quietly as he can before he gets himself in trouble.
Political snippets: Rudd will win health reform at COAG
There might be a minor grumble or two from a Premier pretending that the offer should have been more but Kevin Rudd will get his health reform victory. Plus, Rudd get the Obama tick of approval and other political tidbits.
Brumby’s obviously a politician, not a mathematician
Ben Eltham attempts to wade through the confusing numbers of hospital beds and GST revenue and establish: do John Brumby’s health figures stack up? Actually, states are better off under Rudd’s plan.
Grattan: Rudd crosses his heart and hopes he won’t die
Kevin07 has learnt the hard way — through public embarrassment over hospital reform, asylum seekers and insulation — that it’s a lot easier to spin rhetoric than convert those words into action and policies, writes Michelle Grattan.
Ted Baillieu is the real winner of the health debate
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.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: If you support Rudd’s hospital plan — you don’t understand it
Crikey readers take Bernard Keane to task over his coverage on Rudd’s health reform plans. Plus: SMAge journo Dan Oakes defends his coverage of the Thai riots, Simon Fuller continues to fuel debate and more.
Political snippets: Time for some Baillieu bravery
The time is right for Victorian opposition leader Ted Baillieu to emerge as a friend of the Prime Minister, NT breaks out the wooden spoon, the spirit of Gough is alive and well in Hungary, and more meaty chunks from Richard Farmer.
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?
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Rudd’s ‘Yes Minister’ moment on health
One Crikey reader writes that cash strapped State premiers will be unable to resist the health carrot Rudd is dangling. Plus, readers weigh in on the iPad and Press Gang.
Milne: Rudd plays referen-dumb
Constitutionally, Kevin Rudd has the power to make health policy changes — ie. the national takeover of hospitals — without a referendum if the states don’t agree. So why threaten them? asks Glenn Milne.
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.
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.
Health care ain’t just hospitals
When will we move on from the simplistic focus on hospitals when discussing health reform? asks Trevor Carr from the Victorian Healthcare Association. Instead, let’s focus on industrial relations, primary care and prevention.
Devine: The worm is a moron
All the “wormologists” in the health debate are snivelling idiots with low IQs, says Miranda Devine. Why? Because they loved Kevin Rudd. Even though his hospital system didn’t operate on Miranda’s sliced thumb.
Is it time to get rid of the states?
From the new national curriculum to the federal takeover of public hospitals, Australia’s federal government is taking away more and more power from the states. What next? asks Klaas Woldring.
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 Research: Hospitals plan popular, and Gillard will have to wait
Kevin Rudd may have already won the policy debate on health reform ahead of tomorrow’s leaders’ debate, with new polling revealing more than half of voters back the government’s hospital plan.
Coorey: Attack dog Abbott to be debating captain?
It’s a risky move by Kevin Rudd to give Tony Abbott equal status and debate him on health reform, but Rudd reckons he’s got the got the upper hand in health, writes Philip Coorey.
