Menzies House

The Rudd Government Health Policy…Initiative or more Smoke & Mirrors?

Grant Petras asks where the detail is in Rudd's health policy.

The Rudd Government believes it has achieved a major breakthrough on Australian health policy with its new agreement with almost all of the States. And it may well have. The truth about this is that no-one will truly know for some time to come, given the lead times and implementation necessary to bring any of this to reality.

To criticise or debate Rudd’s health policy is also very difficult as it is so short on public detail and specifics will only be known to select bureaucrats in high places, but I will have a go nonetheless.

COAG: when a noxious nerd can bore hairy-chested premiers into submission

Terry Barnes reviews this week's COAG meetings.

You have to take your hat off to Kevin Rudd.  Deal or no deal he has pulled off a political coup in getting the premiers of the two biggest States to tap the mat after weeks of furious and ugly Labor Party brawling. 

Rumour has it that on mid-Tuesday afternoon the Labor leaders caucused, and they decided to give Rudd what he most wanted because the Prime Minister had threatened them with yet another tedious PowerPoint presentation.