Events in Canberra recently are of great concern to all of us. The Labor leadership crisis demonstrates that the Gillard Government is focused on itself rather than the issues facing our community.

Thank you to all those who have contacted me expressing views about the leadership struggle between Kevin & Julia. It is clear people are disheartened by the behaviour of members of the Government.  I agree with the overwhelming majority of people’s views that this vote will not resolve anything and that the time has come for a fresh election.

Also of great concern to many locally is the Gillard Government’s breach of another election promise, this time over private health insurance. Click here to read my speech.

108,300 Mitchell residents covered by private health insurance will be hard hit by the decision by Julia Gillard to break another promise and apply means testing to the rebate. Because of the means test, it is estimated 1.6 million Australians could drop private hospital cover over the next five years and another 4.3 million Australians could downgrade their level of coverage. 

The Government’s decision to means test private health insurance will also have a significant impact on the public hospital system. It is estimated that 845,000 new procedures will be forced onto the public hospitals system, putting further pressure on waiting lists that already force thousands of people to wait years for surgery.