Abbott has beaten Rudd to the punch on health

Jode says:

05:17am | 23/12/09

Someone posted a few months ago that Rudd has had enough time to come up with a resonable plan and some progressive results for the health issues we face. And that if he can’t come up with one by Dec’09 then he has failed in a key election promise. It is too late for Rudd, we need a new leader…..any leader…...

Wayne Hutchins says:

05:26am | 23/12/09

Where is Krudd? I am seeing and hearing Abbott in the news everyday but nothing of my little lying mate Kevin! Good factual article Leo! Krudd must have his arms full with all the bucks that have stopped with him lately.

Jane says:

05:34am | 23/12/09

Rudd needs to get the guts to make decisions, he’s too afraid to make decisions in case they make him unpopular. He’s as weak as piss.

Diamantina Dick says:

06:40am | 23/12/09

Good observations Leo. Consistent with what Janet Alb’sen had to say this morning “Rudd is a smart politician. He has no power base or natural support within the Labor Party. His leadership hinges on poll results and nothing else. The moment those numbers dip, he is on shaky ground within his own party. Accordingly, he has refused to do anything that will upset the voters until the next election.”

Lack of conviction on issues like this are indeed fertile ground for the opposition, who I suspect the public believe they will actually do what they say.

Lucia says:

07:09am | 23/12/09

Rudd seems to have a delema, with Abbott choping at his heels everywhere he goes. Good to see, Opposition and accountability at last for Messiah Rudd.

Blaise says:

07:32am | 23/12/09

The states are so incompetent! I am all for a takeover! Good policy Tony!

acker says:

08:00am | 23/12/09

Dont worry about the referendum just take them over from the dithering wasteful over administered states.

There are 7 levels of beuracratic command between Hospital managers and the Cluster group CEO’s in NSW

And there was a case last year where the CEO of a Southern Regional NSW cluster group advertised a positition for a Personal Assistant (not for the CEO) but for the CEO’s Personal Assistant….the NSW Health Department is extremely wasteful and top heavy with far too many non-medical administrative beauracrats.

And I’m on a Local Hospital Advisory Committee

Skye says:

08:18am | 23/12/09

Where is Kevin? Still recovering from his flight from Nopenhagen? Poor Kev, that jet lag can be a real drag sometimes, especially when you have an Opposition who just won’t leave you alone for 5 mins.

Tim says:

08:36am | 23/12/09

I strongly agree, Kevin Rudd, has broken his promise on health. It is clear and simple.

However that doesn’t mean I trust Abbott more. He did have five years of being a health minister during an economic boom period to increase funding for health but did not.

The Rudd honeymoon with the voters is over- he is now just an ordinary everyday politician. The fact remains, however, that the Liberals have not renewed, they have not learned their lessons from 2007 and have failed to become a viable alternative.

Mother of Perth says:

09:05am | 23/12/09

Tony and his Mad Team will do nothing to fix health problems.
What have he done to improve the system while in power for 12 years ,nothing.
Only less hospital beds and longer guess for surgery not to mention bad dental service, less nurses and doctors.
The Federal Government should make one Office that is responsible for the whole country health system.
They donut need to wait for referendum or Tony to tell them what has to be done.
As for Kevin he started to loose his marbles lately.
Take a long cold shower and start working not spinning.
If he cant do more then one thing at the same time then let women to it.
Julia put Kevin in the corner and start the work yourself, except for abolishing of Work Choices there is nothing done by this Rudd government.
I would be popular too if I gave money to my friends, but how long it last, eventually they want more.
My wish for Kevin is to wake up, and for Tony to show us your money.

Xapper says:

09:09am | 23/12/09

I don’t think any federal government, Liberal or Labor, would take on the health issue; it’s a dog’s breakfast and would break anyone’s back. There is nothing in it for the federal government to fix it really.

Wayne Hutchins says:

09:36am | 23/12/09

Funny thing Xapper, that’s Krudds view as well. Defeatist attitude or what!

mcdazz says:

10:50am | 23/12/09

Talking about it doesn’t mean they will do anything about it.

John Howard talked about taking over the States Hospitals but it didn’t happen (except the one they took over prior to the by-election and then handed back after the by-election without doing anything).

Kevin Rudd has talked about taking over the States Hospitals, but it has never happened because the States won’t allow it to happen.

As for Tony Abbott and health, let’s not forget his time as the Health Minister - where he delayed the introduction of PET scanners (cancer detection technology) or Tony Abbotts delay of the Gardasil vaccine.

And let’s not forget his treatment of Bernie Banton.

Tony Abbott was a disgrace as the Health Minister - the health system will be destroyed under his leadership.

mcdazz says:

10:54am | 23/12/09

“I feel the pain of everyone, and then I feel nothing.”

Is Leo Shanahan a Dinosaur Jnr fan?

Jeff Mueller says:

11:18am | 23/12/09

Perhaps you were too young to remember Mr Abbott’s incumbency?  Ask one of your folks.  They’ll be able to tell you how he took over the Health portfolio from Kay Pattison with much fanfare and talk of his reputation as a headkicker, and proceeded to do not very much.

Terry Barnes says:

11:20am | 23/12/09

Nice one Leo. You forgot to mention, though, that Abbott has one extra thing on Rudd - he actually took over a public hospital, the Mersey in Tasmania. How many public hospitals has Rudd taken over? None.  How many takeovers has he opposed? One - the Mersey. Putting aside the politics of the Mersey takeover, we feds learned more about the realities of running a public hospital in those few months than we ever had over decades of doling out billions to the spendthrift States for the purpose.  No wonder the federal bureaucrats persuaded Roxon to unload it at the first opportunity - and she didn’t need much persuading. The federation has failed on health and hospitals - all Abbott and Dutton are saying is let the people decide about where to next.  A referendum would mean a public debate on or health system and our choices of a depth that no mere reform commission could match.

But one thing about the Mersey experience stood out more than anything.  That was that the local community wanted their hospital, took huge pride in it and when given the opportunity to have a local board of management for the Mersey, they jumped at it. Abbott clearly hasn’t forgotten that experience.

Over to you, Kevin 24/7.

Garry says:

12:40pm | 23/12/09

I agree to a federal take over of hospitals but I just wish people, Mr. rudd included stop saying, ‘But under Howard nothing’... or ‘Abbot did this or did that when he was in leadership’

I really do not care on the past nor do I linger on it other than to point out to those that do, like Mr. Rudd. He came to power saying he will fix so go fix. Do that and people will praise you, do nothing then bye bye. Sadly, too many reasons are springing up now in the bye bye list…. environment, Federal Police, Internet filtering and now Health.

We are starting to see the failings, pick it up Mr. Rudd. You were voted in to do what you promised - pray tell why not?

Alexandra says:

12:59pm | 23/12/09

medazz - there was such a wealth of Dinosaur Jr lyrics that would have resonated here. I suggest a verse from Freakscene may also have sufficed:

It’s so f***ed I can’t believe it
If there’s a way I wish we’d see it
How could it work just can’t conceive it
Oh what a mess, just to leave it

John A Neve says:

01:35pm | 23/12/09

In response to Terry Barnes and others, the concept of local boards of management is ludicrous. That would just be an extension of what have now, state run health.

Would these local boards of management provide a full range of services?
If the didn’t where would patients be sent?
Would we have a national standard of care or would each board set it’s own standard?
On what basis would the money be allocated?

Come on, we want to improve health care, not go backwards.

Dalma Smithy says:

01:41pm | 23/12/09

For those with a memory - TA was a Health Minister with grand ideas, but in realty failed dismally on every count. He reformed the PBS system by generating huge windfalls for the Pharmaceutical share holders. Prices sky rocketed, and for all without a Health card, paid triple for over the counter scripts. He made himself a millionaire,got heafty bonus trips all over the World, and was given presents he never declared. He was their Messiah - woudn’t you be if your shares leap-frogged ?
Bring on a Referendum - it wont guarantee universal Health care for all. It relies on the wishes of the States that will deny Canberra’s push.

Darren says:

01:56pm | 23/12/09

Tony would just outsource health to his mates at Pfizer

Crassus says:

02:06pm | 23/12/09

Tony Abbott’s whistling about taking over hospitals is classic Abbott.

He is a truly postmodern politician. What he says is shaped by the political circumstances of the time. When the times change, he changes.
He set up a Medicare safety net as Health Minister in 2004. That was needed because John Howard had presided over the decay of Medicare. During the election campaign of 2004 Abbott gave an “absolutely rock solid, iron-clad commitment” that the safety net would not be changed. Like so many Howard election initiatives it was ultimately unsustainable - take Peter Costello’s word on that. (The Mersey Hospital takeover was another one of those wasteful, unsustainable initiatives.)

The year after the election the threshold was lowered and the holes in the safety-net became much larger. Abbott’s ” rock -solid” commitment was rock solid at the time of the election but not for any other time. Such is the nature of Abbott’s promises and polices : “iron-clad” one day, “crap” and “thought bubbles” the next. Ask Malcolm Turnbull.

SD says:

02:34pm | 23/12/09

Abbot’s plan to replace State Health departments with hundred of local authorities is a plan for a massive increases in the bureaucrats required to run the system.
If they are to make real decisions about health in a local area every local authority will need to provide the services now being provided centrally. They will need to provide the payroll systems, the IT departments, the accounting services, the purchasing groups, the management for all of the above as well as the seat warmers to sit on the boards. You can bet that they will not be given extra money to provide these services which means that there will be less doctors and nurses to deliver real service.

Colin says:

03:00pm | 23/12/09

The Victorian Bracks / Brumby Government have blown $1.3 Billion, I will type it again, $1.3 Billion on what appears to be a farcical ticketing system. And you want them to continue to run our hospitals… I belive state Labor Governments ran down the health sytem to make the Feds looks bad so things would change Nationally, Things changed Nationally,  so now deal with it and sort it out..

brad says:

03:10pm | 23/12/09

The plural of memorandum is memoranda.  I look forward to a better use of the English language in your next post.

Peter Simmons says:

03:19pm | 23/12/09

The Constitution says States run Health.

Rudd’s campaign promise was incorrect from the start,  but not once did the Media ask him if he would hold a referendum.

Abbot is right:  Rudd suckered everyone.

Jack from Perth says:

03:33pm | 23/12/09

Why not remove the joke that is state government all together?

Abbott and furphies says:

03:56pm | 23/12/09

Abbott talks, that’s all he ever does. Sometimes in the same week he changes his mind then changes it again, and again, and again, and… How are we supposed to know what he would actually do/ Remember he cut his political teeth on non-core election promises, and is quite as likely to follow suit - if he last until the next election without a scalpel in his back. Minchin’s a mind-changer as well, but only about who he thinks should lead the party, in everything else he is far right, arogantly too far right in fact.

Lisa says:

04:15pm | 23/12/09

Tony for PM.

mcdazz says:

04:33pm | 23/12/09

@Alexandra - 01:59pm | 23/12/09

“medazz - there was such a wealth of Dinosaur Jr lyrics that would have resonated here. I suggest a verse from Freakscene may also have sufficed:

It’s so f***ed I can’t believe it
If there’s a way I wish we’d see it
How could it work just can’t conceive it
Oh what a mess, just to leave it”

Absolutely - Start Choppin’ fits as well.

There’s no goin’ back to that
I’m so numb, can’t even react
Didn’t say it’s not OK
But we aren’t dealin’ the same way

Greg says:

04:39pm | 23/12/09

I think we need to give Abbott a break. It is the current Federal Government who is racking up a long list of broken promises from the last election. Remember Rudd talking about hospitals: ” I will end the blame game….... the buck will stop with me!”

Then he told us he would keep grocery prices under control. Result: Grocery watch gets tossed in the too hard basket and they tell us to buy Homebrand.

And who could forget Fuel Watch. People around Australia were falling over themselves to tell him it wouldn’t work and guess what? it didn’t.

Then we had the ” National Broadband Network”. Now to be fair I actually saw Kev turning over a few sods for the cameras which is highly ironic considering there is no funding for it in the budget.

I think he even hinted that he was a fiscal conservative. Well, he’s spending our money like a drunken sailor. He has spent more money than any other Aussie PM in history (none of it on hospitals). Gough would be proud.

At least he came good on giving our kids laptops. Now they can surf the web, download porn and play games instead of kicking a footy around in the park.

Q.E.D says:

05:16pm | 23/12/09

brad says: 04:10pm | 23/12/09

“The plural of memorandum is memoranda.”  - pull your head in, Brad, and stop being such a cock!

acker says:

06:10pm | 23/12/09

I think the only thing standing between Kevin Rudd and the common sense Commonwealth takeover over of the Hospital system as has been suggested in white papers, green papers and by various groups such as the AMA.

Is his fear of upsetting an internal Labor Party Right Faction backlash by the State Public Service supporting heavy’s within the party such as Della Bosca, Tripodi, Sartor, Obeid, Arbid, Kaiser, Lucas, Emerson, Brumby, Holding and of course the strategicaly positioned Foreign Minister Stephen Smith..

Rudd’s biggest fear is probably cannabilization or a king hit from within his own party more than from the Coalition at the moment.

Good move by Abbott on a sensible suggestion, and will probably end up being another case on this issue where Rudd has shown weak leadership and failed to stare down rogue elements of his party, for something that is clearly in the national interest.

This is the policy that is causing me to have the greatest concern about Rudd as a leader, who I have generally supported up to now. Rudd also needs to remember he is currently walking a fine line with this dithering and may end up being remembered alongside Billy McMahon in our reccolections rather than alongside Curtain and Hawke

Evelyn Suffran says:

06:47pm | 23/12/09

Abbott did sweet FA in the health portfolio except style himself as the self appointed guardian of the nations wombs

Daniel says:

08:00pm | 23/12/09

Abbott was part of the Howard government. They had 10 years to fix up hospitals and now he is attacking Rudd. Bit rich.

Steve from Mannum says:

08:29pm | 23/12/09

It matters if reform is carried out by Labour or Coilition.
Labour will create massive Federal Bureaucracy, same old same old. [Rember Rudd promised to slash public sector jobs,but in fact they have escalated] Abbott has indicated funding will go straight to hospital boards. Huge difference.

Milton says:

09:25pm | 23/12/09

Why is rudd attacking abbott when he should be working on a realistic plan to manage the complex health care system? Oh thats because he has no plan. Rudd talks a good talk but he and his team of sinister ministers don’t produce the goods. The buck stops with him, yeah right! What a dud…......rudd…......

Ronin8317 says:

09:46pm | 23/12/09

Did the Liberal decided to ditch Crosby-Textor replace it with ‘wishful thinking’?

Health care and education is something which the Labor Party owns in the mind of the voter. The average voter doesn’t care whether the hospital is run by the State or Federal Government, and Mr Abbott’s performance as health minister is not something he would remind the voter of. He should stick to wailing about boat people, terrorists, and “magic puddings” solutions for climate change.

Cynth says:

06:22am | 24/12/09

Yes Evelyn Suffran, and that is exactly what Kevin Rudd and Nicola Roxon are doing now their in Government. Nothing has changed it’s only become worse, another boken pre-election promise by Rudd.

Rob says:

08:46am | 24/12/09

So Abbott is some kind of Liberal health care Messiah, bin there, done that… Johnny Howard’s mob did nothing on any of this reform for 11 years… He turns up at the chemist to talk about health reform with whilst he’s got big pharma and health care funds breathing down his neck to increase fees and get rid of the the pharma benefits scheme to charge pensioners full price…
Education… well the systematic dismantling of the education streams by Johnny boy seem to have been forgotten, now there is a huge skills shortage… but that’s OK, increase the migration rate instead, cause a housing shortage and push up rents and widen the affordability gap for locals…
Or you could say…. the Liberals want to stop the boat people… but let the UK, Euro and US visa over stayers leach of the welfare and healthcare systems… but blame the real refugees for all that because it looks good in the tele’, for the pensioner votes.
That’s the alternative government…

Garry says:

11:39am | 24/12/09

@Rob, a reminder, we have a labor government in power. Technically and if I may say literally Liberals are no longer in power. So basically it is up to Labor to do something about it. If they do not then the Liberals have the right to say what they do.

Belated or not, a change of stance or not, its how the system works. If Labor can not do anything and the Liberals say they will, we will vote on it. if all you can say about non-action on Labor who promised to do something is to blame the previous government why should we trust labor? I am sure many people voted Labor because they wanted change desperately… no change is happening now so what now?

Lament on how bad the previous government was so much compaired to how lesser bad it is now under labor? is that progress?

Should not the party in power act and the party not, say how they will, perhaps being thrown out means that a party changes policy for the better - bit late but at least it is a positive move…. proof is in activity… we are watching Labor

Alice says:

01:28am | 07/01/10

Jack from Perth, it is suprising to see someone from WA supporting the abolishment of State governments altogether, as a general lack of funding and attention to our fair yet distant state is alreadty reflected in 80% of matters dealt with by the federal government. Our state government is the only thing that assures we get close to the equivalent amount back that we put in.

Rob says:

07:54am | 13/01/10

Rudd is a babbling brook of inanities and broken promises. His biggest contribution is his ego and that is slowly deflating like a leaky balloon.
He’s still set on an ETS even though hospitals are crying out for money. He wants to give it away. The boats are queuing up in Indonesia - one way tickets to Australia. He’s making a difference, alright.
Oh, yes, and he speaks mandarin - big deal.

Hotels in Muenster says:

09:57am | 10/04/10

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