topic Re: Diary of our stinking opposition in Community Spirit

Diary of our stinking opposition

village_person — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:17:21 GMT

Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh shifts position on previous support for a GP fee

Labor's shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh was once a strong supporter of a compulsory fee for visits to the doctor - a policy now slammed by the opposition as a “GP tax” that would hurt the community’s most vulnerable.

But in a 2003 Sydney Morning Herald article Dr Leigh, then a PhD student in economics at Harvard University, argued a Medicare co-payment was “hardly a radical idea”.

“As health researchers have shown, cost-less medical care means that people go to the doctor even when they don't need to, driving up the cost for all of us," Dr Leigh and co-author Richard Holden wrote.

“But there's a better way of operating a health system, and the change should hardly hurt at all.

“As economists have shown, the ideal model involves a small co-payment - not enough to put a dent in your weekly budget, but enough to make you think twice before you call the doc."

Dr Leigh argued the fee should be enough to deter “frivolous GP visits”, but not enough to limit genuine preventive care. The fee should apply to everyone, including pensioners, except those who are chronically ill, he wrote.

Dr Leigh, who has opposed the proposal in media appearances over recent weeks, told Fairfax Media: "Since 2003, a lot has changed in the health care system, and I've changed my view on co-payments.

“A GP co-payment was originally a Hawke government proposal led by Brian Howe, a member of the Left faction,” he said.

“As long as it is applied fairly across the community, a co-payment is a perfectly valid policy measure. If Andrew Leigh, before he had to toe the party line, recognised that then I welcome his contribution to the debate. I respect Andrew Leigh as a sensible economist.”

On Saturday, Dr Leigh, a former professor of economics at the Australian National University, distanced himself from an article he wrote in 2004 supporting fee deregulation for universities – another policy opposed by Labor.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-frontbencher-andrew-leigh-shifts-position-on-previous-support-for-a-gp-fee-20140427-zr0ej.html

Yes, it’s the very well respected ALP whey-faced Dr Andrew Leigh who virtually declared his previous books and speeches as mere works of fiction. This brings into sharp focus Dr Leigh's economics degree.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

myoclon1cjerk — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 21:34:18 GMT

2004? How about a more recent one like the COAL-itions volte-face on an ETS after John Howard said they'd introduce one.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

polksaladallie — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:04:43 GMT

2009

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

polksaladallie — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:09:30 GMT

Grreg Hunt, Minister for the Environment

Hunt was born in Melbourne and was educated at The Peninsula School. He graduated from Melbourne Law School with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), where he won a prize for a final year thesis he co-authored entitled A Tax to Make the Polluter Pay

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

debra9275 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:18:27 GMT

Any government which makes it harder to manufacture cars is making it harder for us to continue to be a first world economy because without cars, without steel, without aluminium, without cement, we don't have these manufacturers in Australia, we are not really a sophisticated economy any more.''

These thoughtful words, taken from the Liberal Party website, were uttered by none other than Tony Abbott after one of his fancy dress tours of the Ford production line at Geelong in 2011

tony abbott- opposition leader 2011

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

gleee58 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:41:00 GMT

Would we want people who are unable to change their views as they learn more over the years?

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

j*oono — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:43:06 GMT

This thread will be a good read after the next federal election.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

myoclon1cjerk — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:55:24 GMT

I think this one might be short-lived. 😄

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 01:00:36 GMT

@j*oono wrote:
This thread will be a good read after the next federal election.

so will the 'Diary of our stinking Govt.'

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

gleee58 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 01:21:22 GMT

@myoclon1cjerk wrote:
I think this one might be short-lived. 😄

beats me how it could be compared in any way other than the copycat name.

That one is to post about the current government and their daily gaffes and abuses. This is about something an ALP member said over 20 years ago, who has since changed his mind and explained why he did.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

cherry*135 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 05:56:50 GMT

Daily clangers, gaffes, howlers, back flips, backdowns, about faces, cave in's, broken promises, undisciplined thought bubbles... haven't got much to work with here compared to the Diary of our current Govt....

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

village_person — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 07:01:58 GMT

@myoclon1cjerk wrote:
2004? How about a more recent one like the COAL-itions volte-face on an ETS after John Howard said they'd introduce one.

That belongs in "Diary of our stinking government. You do know the difference twixt the government and the opposition I hope.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

village_person — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 07:06:08 GMT

P'dallie, d9275, g58, am3, as is customary for the self-appointed arbiters here I would like to tell you you're in the wrong area. Please post you thoughts in the "Diary of our stinking government".

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

gleee58 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 07:14:23 GMT

when in opposition....

‘Bad bosses, like bad fathers and husbands, should be tolerated because they do more good than harm’

‘I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons’

‘Gillard won’t lie down and die’

‘If you want to put a price on carbon why not just do it with a simple tax.’

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

cherry*135 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:24:54 GMT

@village_person wrote:
P'dallie, d9275, g58, am3, as is customary for the self-appointed arbiters here I would like to tell you you're in the wrong area. Please post you thoughts in the "Diary of our stinking government".

Sorry, but posters don't get to choose which threads other posters are allowed to post in.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

cherry*135 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:42:03 GMT

Seems it was the PM dropping the 'stinking' comments, not the Oppostion Leader.

AFR

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has again apologised for his "over the top remark" comparing the Opposition Leader to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

It shouldn't have been said," Mr Abbott told ABC radio on Friday. "I immediately withdrew it and apologised for it.

"All of us from time to time in heated debate... sometimes go too far. I accept that."

In federal parliament on Thursday, Mr Abbott called Bill Shorten the "Dr Goebbels of economic policy".

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

gewens — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 08:50:29 GMT

Hello, everyone. Just want to remind you that interpersonal dispute isn't allowed, please stay on topic. Thanks. 🙂

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

gleee58 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 09:17:54 GMT

@am*3 wrote:
Seems it was the PM dropping the 'stinking' comments, not the Oppostion Leader.

AFR

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has again apologised for his "over the top remark" comparing the Opposition Leader to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

It shouldn't have been said," Mr Abbott told ABC radio on Friday. "I immediately withdrew it and apologised for it.
"All of us from time to time in heated debate... sometimes go too far. I accept that."

In federal parliament on Thursday, Mr Abbott called Bill Shorten the "Dr Goebbels of economic policy".

Only it wasn't a mistake. It was a staged for the camera moment in readiness for the next election campaign.

And he didn't really apologise he made a mockery of I withdraw, I withdraw, I withdraw, with laughter and arms waving.

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

cherry*135 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 09:47:28 GMT

Yes, I saw the photo of him laughing then.

While in Opposition - 2011

Abbott declared - It is an absolute principle of democracy that governments should not and must not say one thing before an election and do the opposite afterwards.

Oh really?

Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

village_person — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 10:00:27 GMT

@am*3 wrote:

Sorry, but posters don't get to choose which threads other posters are allowed to post in.

A very good point am*3. It is to be hoped that the soi-disant grammar and spelling police (we know who they are don't we) heed your very wise words about not offering advice to others. Let's also hope that pouting, sweet lips issuing a peccavi acts as a salve to some people