Diary of our stinking opposition

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-positio...

 

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.

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Re: Diary of our stinking opposition

Fake poster alert. That is not even real.

 

Unlike this one, which was on billboards in Australia

 

abbott hopeless.jpg

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TRADE unions want to enlist Australians who are keen to help the labour movement limit the Abbott government to one term.


THE Team One Term campaign aims to unite opponents of the coalition across the country who are willing to carry out an unspecified task each week, a statement from the ACTU says.

 

Volunteers will have to sign up to a code of conduct, requiring them to behave in an ethical and legal manner.
 
Entire Article Here
 
"Volunteers will have to sign up to a code of conduct, requiring them to behave in an ethical and legal manner."
 
Woman LOL
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Where do we sign up?Woman Wink

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billagain.jpg

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@am*3 wrote:

Where do we sign up?Woman Wink


I thought you and your trusty little Dulcinante already had.

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@icyfroth wrote:

 

 

TRADE unions want to enlist Australians who are keen to help the labour movement limit the Abbott government to one term.


THE Team One Term campaign aims to unite opponents of the coalition across the country who are willing to carry out an unspecified task each week, a statement from the ACTU says.

 

Volunteers will have to sign up to a code of conduct, requiring them to behave in an ethical and legal manner.
 
Entire Article Here
 
"Volunteers will have to sign up to a code of conduct, requiring them to behave in an ethical and legal manner."
 
Woman LOL

"Volunteers will have to sign up to a code of conduct, requiring them to behave in an ethical and legal manner."

 

Well that rules the majority of the leftists out. Here we see again that the actual Labor party is really unelectable and irrelevent to modern Australia.

 

They have to rely on criminal unions, bikie gangs, lies and scare tactics and corrupt social media campaigns to get elected.

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@icyfroth wrote:

@am*3 wrote:

Where do we sign up?Woman Wink


I thought you and your trusty little Dulcinante already had.


What does "Dulcinante" mean and who are you talking about?

 

 

am, sounds like the murdoch papers are preparing to be able to blame labor when the the libss lose the next election 🙂

 

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@icyfroth wrote:

@am*3 wrote:

Where do we sign up?Woman Wink


I thought you and your trusty little Dulcinante already had.


Who is Dulcie (dulcinante)?

 

What you falil to acknowledge is some  posters (myself included) on here are following their own mind, not being lead by others or asking others to follow them. If they come across other posters with like minds, views then that is by chance.

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Volunteers will have to sign up to a code of conduct, requiring them to behave in an ethical and legal manner."

 

No problems there

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Re: Diary of our stinking opposition


@serendipityricho wrote:

Hi Icy-just asking--did the twin brother end up

with a head shaped like a light bulb as well?..............................Richo.


Yes...but at least Robert's bulb lights up!

 

Sorry Richo - couldn't resist.

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