Abbott, like his predecessor Julia Gillard, had remained publicly opposed to marriage equality.
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Labor is ramping up its health scare campaign against the Turnbull government, with claims children’s vaccination records will be handed over to private companies. “Anyway, there you go”. “He was short with Mr Turnbull and (the moderator), sometimes snarky – but the crowd seemed to like that he showed a bit of mongrel”.
It was the live audience who deemed Shorten the victor, with many concerned Turnbull’s usually articulate manner of speaking was nowhere to be found on Friday night.
“I am the PM but I’m not the dictator”, he said. I wish to acknowledge your government, Bob.
Mr Turnbull quickly tried to correct himself, saying it was “actually not true” to call the changes cuts. Labor argues the conservative coalition government plans to privatize Medicare – a claim Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull denies.
Turnbull told his Q&A audience that while the Medicare payments system was badly in need of updating “to get it to a sort of smartphone-era”, the work would be done within government, not outsourced.
“There will be no outsourcing of any elements of the Medicare service now delivered by government, full stop – there is no privatisation of Medicare”.
ABC political editor Chris Uhlmann said we were likely to hear more about Medicare over coming weeks. Labor says the tax cuts will cost A$50 billion (S$49 million) which should be spent on health, education and infrastructure.
“The Government mantra has been jobs and growth from the outset”. If the government is re-elected, it plans to hold a plebiscite this year that would allow voters to decide.
“In reply, Mr Turnbull says, “[Catalyst] funding has nearly entirely gone to regional companies, to smaller regional companies in Australia who are seen to be missing out from funding from the Australia Council”, adding that the funds have not been “politically directed” by the current Arts Minister, Mitch Fifield.
“All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is in terms of its impact on particular individuals”.
“If we can outsource this important area, well then let’s do it”.
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“We have had no unlawful arrivals, no unauthorised arrivals, no people smuggling expedition successful for well over 660 days”.
