This research essay will evaluate and judge the proposed $917 million Medicare reform package that is being put forward by the Minister for Health Kay Patterson and Prime Minister John Howard. It is my opinion that the Medicare reform package is not fair to the Australian public and that John Howard has allowed personal vendettas to interrupt his job. The Reform Package will be assessed on the three following criteria.

• The First Criterion: Is the Package equitable for the battlers?

• The Second Criteria: Is the Package helping the rural areas of Australia?

• The Third Criteria: Does the Package help the Middle class Australians?

The First Criterion: Is the Package equitable for the battlers?

Any political reform agenda that involves the area of health that is bought forward by the government will need to be particularly scrutinized for its equity. Medicare plays such a vital role in the Australian society...