The social affairs issue: health, gambling and welfare
- Bulky billing: Is Medicare working?
- Abbott takes a punt on repealing legislation
- Social stigma costs the unemployed
- Events
- Recent publications
- Recent media
Bulky billing: Is Medicare working?
New research by The Australia Institute released today reveals that Australians are paying more than $1 billion each year in out-of-pocket expenses for medical care. Despite Medicare being introduced in 1984 to provide ‘fair and affordable’ health care to all Australians, many are now faced with extra costs for visits to the doctor, having prescriptions filled and diagnostic testing such as blood tests and x-rays.
Abbott takes a punt on repealing legislation
Tony Abbott is making a habit of making promises he knows will be very difficult to deliver on. First, he promised to rescind the carbon price legislation if the Coalition takes government at the next election. This week, the Opposition leader took a similar approach to the debate on gambling reform.
Social stigma costs the unemployed
In Australia there is a great deal of stigma associated with being on unemployment benefits, brought about in no small part through the hysterical scapegoating of ‘dole bludgers’ in the mainstream media and in some political quarters. In the minds of many Australians, a substantial proportion of welfare recipients deliberately cheat the system, even though only a tiny proportion actually does so.
Events
Politics in the Pub – In conversation with ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher
The Australia Institute will host its final Politics in the Pub for the year in Canberra on the evening of Wednesday 23 November. We are pleased to annouce that our guest will be the ACT’s Chief Minister Katy Gallagher. Ms Gallagher became the ACT’s sixth Chief Minister in May of this year. This will be an opportunity to hear about her vision for Canberra and to ask her questions about the issues that are important to Canberrans in the lead-up to next year’s election.
Wednesday 23 November6.00 – 7.00pm (doors open at 5.30pm)The Lounge Bar, Level 3, The Uni Pub17 London Circuit, Canberra
This event is free.
Recent publications
Bulky Billing: Missing out on fair and affordable health care, D Baker, 28 October
The Australian wine tax regime: Assessing industry claims, D Richardson and R Denniss, 28 September
Mining the truth: The rhetoric and reality of the commodities boom, D Richardson and R Denniss, 8 September
Mining Australia’s productivity, D Richardson and R Denniss, 24 August
Recent media
Industry straddles both sides of ‘free trade’ debate, The Canberra Times, 28 October
Patients $900 a year out of pocket, Sydney Morning Herald, 28 October
Think tank questions value of resources sector, Lateline Business, 8 September
Mining offers less than people think, The Age, 8 September
You can catch Richard Denniss on The Bolt Report on Channel 10 this Sunday at 10.00am (4.30pm ACT)
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