on 20-03-2015 08:17 AM
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.
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.
on 23-03-2015 12:42 PM
A twitter storm of hate led by Wendy Harmer, one of the spiteful leftist feminists, about PM Abbott eating an onion, what about the disgusting and sickening footage of Rudd picking his earwax and eating it........................hmmm no twitter hate aboout that.
on 23-03-2015 12:48 PM
@idlewhile wrote:A twitter storm of hate led by Wendy Harmer, one of the spiteful leftist feminists, about PM Abbott eating an onion, what about the disgusting and sickening footage of Rudd picking his earwax and eating it........................hmmm no twitter hate aboout that.
You must have been dreaming, on both occassions.
Rudd was attacked and laughed at mercilessly for his wax eating, and still is this many years later.
Wendy Harmer is neither hate filled or spiteful. She did not lead a twitter hate storm. Was Abbott laughed at for munching into onion with skin attached? You bet he was. Did he deserve to be? You bet he did.
on 23-03-2015 02:57 PM
@village_person wrote:
@myoclon1cjerk wrote:The treatment of Gillian Triggs and the accusations leveled at Save The Children.Very honourable indeed.
Your compass needs calibrating.
I doubt it.Yours however,points far right.
on 23-03-2015 03:05 PM
@myoclon1cjerk wrote:I doubt it.Yours however,points far right.
Opinion only unsupported by any facts or links.
on 23-03-2015 04:35 PM
@crosbystills wrote:The article criticizes Bill Shorten for not making an appearance with Jones, Bolt or Hadley. After Jones' infantile scalding of Julia Gillard for arriving a few minutes late and his revolting comments about her father, is it any wonder? Nobody who disagrees with Bolt's opinion will get anything like a fair hearing and Hadley, the lesser of three evils, is still more of an attack dog than a commentator.
Tony hasn't even got the gumption to appear on Q&A. Although he's not likely to be warmly embraced by the whole studio audience, I'm sure his treatment there would be a lot more civilized than Shorten could expect by fronting the shock jocks.
1680 days
since Tony Abbott was on ABC's Q&A program.
on 23-03-2015 06:45 PM
@village_person wrote:
@myoclon1cjerk wrote:I doubt it.Yours however,points far right.
Opinion only unsupported by any facts or links.
Ditto.
on 24-03-2015 12:10 PM
@polksaladallie wrote:
@crosbystills wrote:The article criticizes Bill Shorten for not making an appearance with Jones, Bolt or Hadley. After Jones' infantile scalding of Julia Gillard for arriving a few minutes late and his revolting comments about her father, is it any wonder? Nobody who disagrees with Bolt's opinion will get anything like a fair hearing and Hadley, the lesser of three evils, is still more of an attack dog than a commentator.
Tony hasn't even got the gumption to appear on Q&A. Although he's not likely to be warmly embraced by the whole studio audience, I'm sure his treatment there would be a lot more civilized than Shorten could expect by fronting the shock jocks.
1680 days
since Tony Abbott was on ABC's Q&A program.
I am so glad the PM does not supprt the leftist Q&A program. They have not run one single positive show on the govt since it was first elected. They are running a negative and hostile line on Liberals and they deserved to be ignored.
on 24-03-2015 12:14 PM
Remember this?
Will they "Kill Bill" before the next election? he's slipping in the polls every month, not a lot but it is slipping and this is anathema to Labor.
Bill has to come up with an idea!! but all he's doing atm is negative on everything, even their own savings, they have blocked that.
It's a laugh to see him in parliament with his low talk and confected outraged voice.
on 24-03-2015 12:26 PM
The tactics of an empty man. Nothing to offer, no ideas, no principles but he's good at getting to the top over 2 sitting prime ministers, good at abusing women, good at grubby social climbing.
This is not the type of grubby human being that should ever aspire to the top job.
on 24-03-2015 02:23 PM
@idlewhile wrote:
@polksaladallie wrote:
1680 days
since Tony Abbott was on ABC's Q&A program.
I am so glad the PM does not supprt the leftist Q&A program. They have not run one single positive show on the govt since it was first elected. They are running a negative and hostile line on Liberals and they deserved to be ignored.
If the PM is right in boycotting the programme, what does that make all (if I recall correctly) of his cabinet members who regularly appear?
The fact is that he is not boycotting the programme because it is "leftist", but because he is totally inept to take part in that format, and he is just plain scared.