This just illustrates a problem with state funded healthcare in that the system's health depends on political squabbles rather than individual free choice.
The Conservative Party pushed to end bracket creep in Canada, do you really think that Labor would do it in Australia? It's always been a right-wing party's idea to do that. And your position is silly on tax cuts, you have giant surpluses, that MEANS you are overtaxed. Taxes should and are fine to be cut bigtime.
I know you guys are tired of Howard but he has brought incredible growth and a big reason IS tax cuts. Another big reason is because The Liberal (there Conservative) Party embarked on free trade, which Labor rejected en masse and it's because of free trade and China's boom that the mining industry in Australia is so booming. It's unfortunate that younger generations there are not old enough to remember what he brought Australia from and just how much better off you are now.
Rudd is just going to spend away what good Conservative government left him.
You may want to read this to get more understanding of what I'm speaking about:
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10000913
