What would you expect from a government press release? A dry, straightforward look at the facts? Perhaps a few quotes from a minister about the latest plan to make our country a better place?
Sadly this is not the case. Both sides have come out of the election still swinging negativity, despite us, the electorate, warning them to be ‘adult’.
Spin machine in overdrive
Check out these two press releases we received last week. They also give some facts about health and Medicare we did not hear during the election.
Titled ‘Plibersek passes on Labor’s health ‘poisoned chalice’, the Minister for Health, Aged Care and Sport Sussan Ley’s office issued its PR release following Bill Shorten’s unveiling of his frontbench this week.
It accuses Labor of letting the new Education Shadow Minister pass on the shadow health portfolio, calling it “a clear move to protect her reputation in light of the billions of dollars of cuts to Medicare, dental and the private health rebate during her time as Health Minister.”
‘In particular, the shadow health portfolio would tie Ms Plibersek to Mr Shorten’s discredited ‘Mediscare’ lies, which have left her leader terminally damaged and open to a future challenge.’
Another issued the same day from her office to congratulate Shadow Health Minister Catherine King comes with the title ‘Shorten chief Medicare liar, no matter who appointed’, and states bluntly:
“Mr Shorten has been proven to be a liar when it comes to Medicare and his privatisation claims.”
Accusations on both sides
Labor, for its own part, took their own swipe at Minister Ley with their July 18 release ‘Welcome back Minister – Now Get Serious about Health’. It urged Ley to “end her party’s three year war against Medicare by abandoning her government’s disastrous health cuts.”
“Unless the Prime Minister backs down, among the very first acts in the new parliament will be regulations to scrap bulk billing incentives for pathology and diagnostic imaging.”
It’s a side of politics the public doesn’t usually see and one that certainly wouldn’t win them any votes.
All talk and no action
With Medicare and health funding the big issues during the Election, you’d expect the Minister for Health and her opposition would be keen to get back to the business of governing the nation.
Minister Ley’s release does say they plan to work with the Opposition and crossbench to build a better health system, though it’s followed up with this:
“The ball is now squarely in Labor’s court as to whether they can put patients before politics.”
We would say the ball is now with both parties to put the spin aside and start thinking about the people who actually elected them.
