A new poll out today has Labor on track to lose the federal election, as the Coalition looks to avoid a repeat of 2022.
The Resolve poll gave the Opposition a 55 per cent lead over the Government’s 45 per cent, two party preferred, and had Peter Dutton ahead of Anthony Albanese when respondents were asked who would offer strong leadership.
Hear more from today’s headlines on this episode of The Briefing:
It comes after a weekend that was all about Medicare.
The Prime Minister announced the biggest boost to Medicare since it was created 40 years ago, an $8.5 billion investment to guarantee cheaper GP visits for all Australians.
Albanese said, “One card covers it all. Not your credit card. This, your Medicare card.”
While unveiling the election promise in Tasmania yesterday, Albanese pledged to ensure 90 per cent of doctor visits will be bulk billed by 2030.
Briefing host Sacha Barbour Gatt reflected on a 2022 campaign that had a hand in winning Labor the vote that year.
“It’s a huge commitment and plays to Labor’s strengths – you might remember the ‘Mediscare’ campaign of the 2022 election during which the party told voters that Scott Morrison and the Liberals had plans to rip funding out of our universal healthcare service,” said Barbour Gatt.
However, as Albanese was making his big announcement, the Opposition was already out confirming it’d match the promise, and go even further with a $9 billion commitment.
Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston said, “They are prepared to use this as a scare campaign.”
“The Labor Party are making an announcement to fix a problem that they have caused, so we will support them fixing the mess,” Ruston said.
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