Rudd defends changed Medicare stance

Rudd defends changed Medicare stance : "Federal Labor had previously pledged to scrap the safety net if it won this year's election, saying it subsidised the wealthy."

I am glad Mr. Rudd has changed his mind and that's a strong point because if he sees he hasn't got it right , he changes the position once he has the information. The safety net supports those who have a lot of prescriptions and need regular medication. I don't benefit from it and there hasn't been one year where I have but that means my family has been well. My sister, brother in law and mother benefitted from it because they had long term conditions which needed regular medication. Without the safety net they would have been financially high and dry. I don't see it benefitting the wealthy unless they use a lot of medication. It is true, when you have little or no money then illness is your worst nightmare. I can remember a time when all I could do was afford the visit to the doctor...my family paid for the treatments and medicines my daughter needed at the time. I know that awful feeling of not being able to afford what you need to help your children get well. I had private health cover. It was the last time the interest rates were hiked up to around 16%. All I could do was pay the mortgage. It was horrible. There may be a better way of helping people do the basic thing of afford treatment. I hope so.