Media Statement - 25th July 2007
This morning, Tony Abbott said he wasn’t interested in the long term challenges facing Australia’s health system. This comes on the heels of his worrying admission yesterday that his major focus is on re-election.
Yesterday, Mr Abbott said:
"The important task at the present time is to get re-elected and that is where my energies are focused.”
This morning, talking about the major funding agreement on public hospitals between the Commonwealth and the States, he told ABC radio:
“I’m addressing those aspects of the portfolio that require my immediate attention... It doesn’t have to be done now, so I’m not gonna do it now.”
There are many significant health challenges facing Australia – including a looming tsunami of chronic diseases; a national dental crisis; and rising rates of diabetes and obesity.
Labor has put forward positive policy proposals to tackle these challenges.
Labor will:
- Broaden the focus of the major health care agreement (AHCA) between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories beyond hospital funding to include prevention and primary care;
- Establish a Commonwealth Dental Program, and invest resources to play our part in fixing the dental crisis;
- Develop a National Preventative Health Strategy to provide a blueprint for tackling the burden of chronic disease;
- Shift the focus from so-called “six minute medicine” in general practice by beginning a reform process to provide incentives for GPs to be able to spend longer with their patients;
- Commission the Treasury to produce a series of definitive reports on the impact of chronic disease on the Australian economy, and the economic benefits of a greater focus on prevention in health care;
- Introduce Healthy Kids Checks for children starting primary school, to make sure our children are happy, healthy and ready to learn;
- Design and provide a Healthy Habits for Life guide, which will provide simple, easy-to-use information to help parents help their children to develop healthy habits.
There are long-term challenges that demand urgent action, and the Government should not be waiting until after the election to get on with the job of fixing our health system.