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Author: Francis Sullivan

  • AUSTRALIA

    National wage decision gives low-income earners breathing space but still a long way to go

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 20 June 2022
    1 Comment

    Despite last week’s decision by the Fair Work Commission to push up the national minimum wage by 5.2 percent, millions of Australians, in all parts of the country, will continue to live in poverty and on survival wages. The facts are that the Commission’s decision takes the minimum wage from $772 a week to $812, an increase of $5.70 a day, not a fortune but better than nothing.

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  • RELIGION

    Best of 2021: The careful choreography of plenary

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 04 January 2022

    The First Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council held few surprises. The program made sure of it. Proceedings were carefully choreographed and the agenda was deliberately anodyne. It took several days before participants found their feet. The upshot was a week devoid of strategic focus.

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  • RELIGION

    The careful choreography of plenary

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 25 October 2021
    15 Comments

    The First Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council held few surprises. The program made sure of it. Proceedings were carefully choreographed and the agenda was deliberately anodyne. It took several days before participants found their feet. The upshot was a week devoid of strategic focus.

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  • RELIGION

    Redress scheme for abuse victims is a good start

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 08 November 2016
    14 Comments

    With all institutions taking part, this scheme will succeed and it will deliver fair, consistent and generous redress for survivors. If some institutions don't take part it will be yet another blow to abuse survivors, with some reaping the scheme's benefits while others are left to suffer further defeats and humiliations. A case in point is the South Australian government. Before the ink was dry on the announcement, SA had already indicated it would not take part. This is appalling, whatever the justification.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Smart hospitals need good policy more than clever politics

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 03 October 2007

    Political leaders attribute hospital crises to administrative bungles rather than a lack of political oversight or investment. But they can't continue to put off dealing with the rising public frustration at the inadequacy of the system's capacity to meet the demand of an ageing population.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Mersey Hospital fix sets scene for wider turmoil

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 08 August 2007

    The Prime Minister's decision to take over funding of Devonport's Mersey Hospital seems to fly in the face of rational analysis of service delivery capacity of the area. It does not set a promising precedent for the health planning prowess on the part of the Commonwealth.

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  • CONTRIBUTORS

    Francis Sullivan

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 17 May 2007

    Francis Sullivan is the Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health Australia.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Sell Medibank Private, it no longer justifies government ownership

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 27 February 2007

    Medibank Private should be sold. It no longer justifies government ownership.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Close cloning vote reflects complex and confronting issue

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 13 November 2006
    2 Comments

    Last week's conscience vote on human embryo cloning exposed Senators to a level of public scrutiny seldom, unparalleled in normal debates. Many felt exposed and vulnerable, weighed down by the decisions before them.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Cut price care

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 26 June 2006

    The Howard government wants a different Medicare: one where people who can, pay more to visit a doctor. The government is grappling with a complex economic issue, but should not dismiss the social benefits that Medicare delivers to the very sick and less well off.

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Beyond Left and Right

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 26 June 2006

    Shadow Minister Craig Emerson (pictured), has an intelligent and provocative book that approaches social and economic issues from the right of the ALP. His starting point alone will win him friends and foes. But it will also put some energy into a staid policy making process.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Taking responsibility

    • Francis Sullivan
    • 16 June 2006

    It is time for government leaders to stage a ‘walk in’ and recommit the country’s resources for the health of everyone.  

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