Australia Has Woken Up To A Shock General Election Outcome And It Isn’t Good For The Digital Health Future!

As a brief taste of what we read this morning!

Scott Morrison re-elected in a 'miracle', Shorten resigns

Phillip Coorey Political Editor

Updated May 19, 2019 — 12.58am, first published at 12.16am

Scott Morrison has pulled off one of the most memorable victories in Australian politics to secure the Coalition a third consecutive term.

In a tight result which saw little change from the status quo,  Labor failed to meet its own expectations and underperformed in every state.

In what Mr Morrison called a miracle, the nation is headed for either a minority Coalition government, or a Coalition government with a small majority in its own right.

With more than two-thirds of the vote counted, the Coalition had secured 74 seats, one more than it started with and just two short of the bare majority of 76.

Labor was on 65 seats and there were six crossbenchers. One of these was Zali Steggall, who inflicted a rare loss on the Coalition by defeating Tony Abbott in Warringah and ending the former prime minster's 25-year career.

Another six seats were too close to call. These were Boothby (Lib, SA), Cowan (ALP, WA), Wentworth (Ind, NSW), Lilley (ALP, Qld), Macquarie (ALP, NSW)  and Chisholm (Lib, Vic).

Bill Shorten conceded defeat just after 11.30pm and, after two terms and two elections as leader, he stepped down.

"Without wanting to hold out any false hope, while there are still millions of votes to count and important seats yet to be finalised, it is obvious that Labor will not be able to form the next government,'' he said.

"This has been a tough campaign. Toxic at times. But now that the contest is over, all of us have a responsibility to respect the result, respect the wishes of the Australian people and to bring our nation together."

Mr Morrison, who received a hero's welcome from the party faithful, labelled his win a "great victory"  for what he has referred to throughout the campaign as "the quiet Australians''.

"I have always believed in miracles,''he said.

There is vastly more here:

https://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/scott-morrison-re-elected-in-a-miracle-shorten-resigns-20190518-p51os7

Equally as close has been the contest for the present Health Minister’s seat.

Greg Hunt fends off Julia Banks challenge to retain Flinders seat 

By Sumeyya Ilanbey, Charlotte Grieve, Yan Zhuang, Benjamin Preiss and Adam Carey

Updated May 18, 2019 — 11.26pm first published at 5.38pm

Flinders

• Area: Almost all of the Mornington Peninsula
• Held by: Liberal MP Greg Hunt
• Margin: 7 per cent at 2016 election
• Challengers: Labor's Josh Sinclair, Independent Julia Banks

Incumbent Liberal MP and Health Minister Greg Hunt has repelled a challenge from Liberal-turned-independent Julia Banks and Labor's Josh Sinclair.

Mr Sinclair called Mr Hunt around 10pm to concede defeat.

"This has been our toughest battle no question, but as ever steel is tempered through fire all of this makes us stronger," Mr Hunt said at his election-night function in Rye on Saturday night. An ecstatic Mr Hunt thanked his volunteers and supporters for helping him retain the crucial seat of Flinders, as he conceded this was the “toughest battle” he had ever faced.

With almost 35 per cent of the vote counted at 9.40pm, Mr Hunt was ahead 53-47 on a two-party preferred against Mr Sinclair.

More here:

https://www.theage.com.au/federal-election-2019/the-victorian-seats-that-could-help-decide-the-election-20190518-p51oro.html

Latest counting gives the margin at 55/45% to Mr. Hunt.

The problem is that Mr Hunt had no digital health policy that I could detect whereas it was clear that Labor planned to conduct a detailed review of just where the My Health Record was up to, to reconfirm all the privacy and security protections and make sure all was in order etc.

Here is the link:

https://aushealthit.blogspot.com/2019/05/we-had-debate-on-future-of-health.html

Mr. Hunt has been a really quite ignorant proponent of the My Health Record based on ADHA assurances from the ADHA that it is a good thing and needs to press forward, despite there being minimal evidence it is a practical fit for purpose solution to some ill-defined need.

Mr. Hunt is a serial plotter who opposed Mr. Turnbull and sought the deputy Liberal leadership from the now re-elected arch plotter Mr. Dutton, but once that failed has been a dedicated Morrison backer. He should be booted from the Health Portfolio for supporting a program he does not properly understand ,and who ever replaces him needs to have a close look at the My Health Record and get ready for the ANAO Audit report in October.

Every month the #myHR gravy train rumbles on is another month real progress in Digital Health is curtailed and obstructed.

In the Digital Health arena I view the Labor loss as I disaster, and had really hoped their election might have lanced the #myHR boil. Sadly that was not to be. Bring on the Audit Office ASAP!

What do you think of Mr. Hunt’s stewardship of digital health?

David.

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