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Coalition’s social services portfolio won’t be assigned until after May 21: PM
By Broede Carmody
While Australians have learned who will become health minister if Prime Minister Scott Morrison wins another term, we don’t know who would replace Anne Ruston to become social services minister.
During this afternoon’s press conference, the PM said a decision on who gets the Coalition’s social services portfolio won’t be made until after the election.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Westmead Children’s Hospital this afternoon. Credit:James Brickwood
He defended this decision on the grounds that it’s more important for voters to know who a political party’s pick for defence, treasury, finance, foreign affairs and health will be when there’s a war in Europe and an ongoing pandemic.
The great news about [social services] is I have such a fantastic team that there are many people that could [fill that role].
I will do that should we have the good fortune to be re-elected by the Australian people. I will have a lot of people to choose from. But that is a matter I’d have to deal with [later].
I can tell you who my defence minister is going to be. But Labor can’t tell you who their defence minister is at a time when there is a war in Europe.
I think there are a range of very important portfolios where you need to make sure people know who are going to be in those portfolios.
As James Massola has reported, Victorian-based ministers Jane Hume and Michael Sukkar and Western Australian Ben Morton.
All Australian children should be able to participate in sport: Ruston
By Broede Carmody
During this afternoon’s press conference, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston was asked about transgender Australians and sport – a question that has divided the Liberal party in recent days following comments from the candidate for Warringah.
Here’s what Ruston, who could end up being the next health minister after the May 21 election, had to say:
Of course we want to see all Australian children be able to participate in sports. We want to make sure all Australians have healthy lifestyles because we know that is not just good for their physical health but their mental health.
I think, going forward, I would be very keen to make sure - through all avenues, whether it be through the education system but, most particularly, through grassroots communities - that we are giving opportunities for all Australians to be able to participate in sport.
And that is really important for younger Australians.
Morrison on why he’s shifted to talking about health
By Broede Carmody
Regular readers of this blog will have spotted the fact that Prime Minister Scott Morrison has shifted from talking about regional jobs (a major theme during the first week of the Coalition’s campaign) to now making health policy a priority.
During this afternoon’s press conference, the PM was asked why he has started the second week of the campaign talking about health when that is traditionally seen as a Labor Party strength.
Morrison was also asked why he’s given the health portfolio to Anne Ruston when she has previously argued for a GP co-payment.
Here’s the PM’s response:
The comments Anne made many years ago [about GP co-payments] related to a policy the government held at that time. And that is not our policy. Won’t be our policy. There will be no co-payment. That is not our policy.
What I’ve seen from minister Ruston is a great empathy with Australians in some of the most difficult areas of need.
My strong point [today] is without a strong economy, you can’t make health committments. Now, we have a strong record in health. Our opponents talk about Medicare. But under us, Medicare has been guaranteed and the Medicare bulk-billing rate has gone from 82.2 to 82.8 per cent.
Our government has been able to guarantee Medicare because we have been able to deliver a strong economy.
Ruston says it’s ‘an absolute honour’ to be given the Coalition’s health portfolio
By Broede Carmody
Social Services Senator Anne Ruston has fronted the media with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
The Liberal senator says it’s an “absolute honour” to be given the Coalition’s health portfolio. As previously reported, Health Minister Greg Hunt is retiring at this election.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston will become health minister if Scott Morrison’s team is re-elected.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“It is an absolute honour to be named the next health minister should the Australian public honour us with returning us to government,” Ruston said.
“I follow in big footsteps and shoes. A man who will be recognised into the future as the greatest health minister this country has ever had. You are an absolute encyclopedia [of knowledge, Greg].”
Ruston said she looked forward to building on Hunt’s three policy principles: allowing greater access to affordable medicines, tackling mental health and investing in medical research.
She also said she had lived most of her life in regional and rural Australia, and so would make regional health a priority.
Watch: PM’s press conference
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital this afternoon.
He was there to formally announce the Coalition’s multimillion dollar plan for people with type 1 diabetes. He then took questions from journalists.
We’ll have the playback version with you shortly.
PM urges people to stay safe on Easter roads, pray for Ukraine
By Broede Carmody
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Australians to drive safely this long weekend and for people to pray for peace in Ukraine.
“Enjoy your time with family and friends over this Easter weekend and please stay safe on the roads,” the PM wrote on social media.
“Let’s also be sure to pray for peace in Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has publicly thanked the bishop at St Monica’s Cathedral in Cairns, James Foley, for delivering this morning’s service.
The PM is due to address the media around 1.20pm AEST.
Stay tuned.
What Greg Hunt plans to do next
By Sarah McPhee
As mentioned earlier this morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that Social Services Minister Anne Ruston is to be given the Coalition’s health portfolio.
This means Ruston will replace Greg Hunt as health minister if the Coalition wins another term of government. Hunt is retiring at this election.
Health Minister Greg Hunt is retiring from politics.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The federal health minister appeared on Channel Nine earlier today when he was asked what he plans to do after leaving politics.
The member for Flinders said the next five weeks will involve “intense work on health, on giving the nation the choice around health and government”.
Obviously, I believe deeply in the leadership of Scott Morrison and the team.
I’ll take a bit of a break, Pilates, possibly a tattoo [said with a laugh], but above all else the real purpose is to be a dad. That’s what I’m looking forward to.
And some focus on mental health for people, in terms of working in that space on a philanthropic side. But the rest of my life, I’ve got plenty of time to sort that.
But to be a dad, and today’s a great day to reflect on this. I haven’t been a proper dad, and so that’s the real purpose and that’s my goal.
Albanese clarifies position on temporary protection visas
By Mike Foley
Labor leader Anthony Albanese made an impromptu address to media in Cairns today to clarify the opposition’s position on temporary protection visas for asylum seekers.
At an earlier press conference, Albanese appeared to give the impression that there had been a change to party’s long-term position to oppose temporary protection visas (which are issued to asylum seekers who arrive in Australia without a visa).
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese in Queensland earlier today. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
A reporter asked, “Do you support the temporary protection visas?” Albanese replied: “Yes.”
Shortly afterwards, Albanese addressed the media.
“Earlier on I heard half the question,” Albanese said. “Labor’s policy is to support operation sovereign borders. We support offshore processing, we support resettlement in third countries. We don’t support temporary protection visas.”
Earlier this week, Albanese said his preference was for boat turnbacks over the offshore detention of asylum seekers. The Labor leader was suggesting that offshore detention isn’t needed when asylum seekers aren’t arriving by boat.
The Coalition seized on these remarks and sought to make border protection an election fight.
Shadow health minister ducks JobSeeker question
By Mike Foley
Shadow health minister Mark Butler, a senior member of Labor’s Left faction, has addressed his party’s decision to temporarily drop its planned review of JobSeeker payments.
During today’s ABC TV appearance, Butler was asked if he approved of Labor’s decision not to increase the unemployment payment of $46 a day in its first budget should Anthony Albanese win the May 21 election.
“We argued very strongly for the 40 per cent increase,” Butler replied.
“We understood that that was an important measure to improve the living standards of this cohort in the community.
“We are also focused on a range of other things that will make a real difference to those households in the areas of social housing, access to vocational training and the like.”
Labor dropped its plan to review the JobSeeker rate earlier this week to dodge a clash with the Coalition over employment.
Labor defends urgent care clinics plan
By Mike Foley
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler has faced questions over the Labor party’s $135 million policy to trial urgent-care clinics.
Australian Medical Association vice president Dr Chris Moy has said the plan is like the Rudd government’s GP super clinics, which he said were “white elephants and were some of the worst examples of pork barrelling”.
Labor health spokesman Mark Butler.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
However, Butler said Labor would work with state governments and GPs to determine the clinic locations.
“This will be a competitive process overseen by the [health] department,” he told the ABC’s Insiders program.
“We will identify particular regions where we know there is huge pressure on hospital departments and GP practices who want to take their practice to the next level [and] will be able to apply for the additional funding.”
Labor’s health spokesman claimed many people can’t access GPs and said his party’s clinics would be fully bulk-billed. He added that the clinics would ease pressure on hospitals by treating minor emergencies, such as a “kid who has fallen off their skateboard”.
“Currently, people can’t get into a GP – particularly after hours,” Butler said.
“We are very confident that this practice will make it easier for people to see doctors, particularly where those families are spending hours and hours lining up in hospital emergency departments.”
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2022-04-17 05:26:37Z
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