fed alp now 20 pcent ahead in polls, page-91

the Labor Party had done a few good things for the people. Some people who regard Labor as bad news seem to have overlooked.

One example is Medicare. Its predesessor is called Medibank. It was introdiced by the Whitlam government. Before Medibank, private health insurance was king. The private health insurance industry waged a huge campaign against Labor in the Dec 2, 1972 election. After the 1972 election win, the Labor government then under Whitlam introduced legislation to set up Medibank; it was blocked by the Libs/Nats controlled Senate. It was reintrodiced and was blocked again in the Senate. There was then the 1974 double dissolution which Labor again won. The Medibank legislation was passed in a subsequent joint sitting of the House of representatives and Senate.

Howard in those years long ago said he would abolish Medibank/Medicare, though he has in recent past said he has changed his views.

Also, many Libs supporters would have benefitted from Labor's (introduced during the Whitlam government's first term) free university regime.