The Government’s talking points on health fell off the back of an ambulance …

  • This is about fixing the health system once and for all [we’re a Government that cares about you and your health … anyone who opposes this plan is working directly against your best health outcomes]
  • This is an important, complex strategy carefully designed to deal with one of Australia’s greatest social challenges [the plan is so bureaucratic and unverifiable that no amount of criticism from experts can demonstrate it won’t work, and in any case it will be well into the next term until it can be proved]
  • We’ll push this through, even if it takes a referendum [anyone who opposes this plan — the Opposition or the states — is working directly against your best health outcomes]
  • It’s financially responsible [no extra money is needed, and no one can work out whether the GST funding mechanism will work]
  • This takes health back to its grass roots through local community boards [it will be run by real people in your community, not faceless bureaucrats from Canberra or the CBD]
  • It is based on benchmarking to reduce waiting lists, increase availability of care and reduce doctor and nursing shortages [we’re a Government that cares about you and your health … anyone who opposes this plan is working directly against your best health outcomes]
  • We’ve spent more than a year developing this important plan to make sure it is right [the Government has a plan to assist your health, those who oppose us do not].