"The health policy of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party is to make Medicare and public hospitals available only for the most needy, whilst in reality reducing funding for the neediest of all - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities" said Dr Peter Davoren, President of the Doctors Reform Society of Queensland today.

"Most people would be left to the private health system. The wealthy and the low wage earner would pay the same private health insurance fees. Ceasing the Medicare levy for private insurance holders greatly benefits the rich at the expense of the poor and the ill" said Dr Davoren.

"We would end up with a two-tiered apartheid system. Medicare would be replaced by a run down, under funded public ‘Medi-poor’ system and an inequitable, private ‘Medi-profit’ system. This may suit the wealthy but be inadequate and a financial strain for ordinary Australians. You only have to look at the United States where a large number of people have inadequate health cover and personal health expense is the largest cause of bankruptcies." warned Dr Davoren.

"In one swoop the One Nation party is proposing the destruction of Medicare. We’ve witnessed the Coalition attempting to do this gradually via the backdoor. Imagine the consequences if there is a Coalition Government with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation holding balance of power after this election." said Dr Davoren.

authors/seconders: T Schrader, A Gunn, P Davoren
25 September 1998