Medibank Private dividend payment

Medibank Private is to pay the Government a special one-off dividend of $300 million according to this statement from the Treasurer.  This is ‘in recognition of Medibank Private Limited’s strong capital position’ due to the build up of its reserves during the period it was a not-for profit health insurer. The dividend will help fund Labor’s election promises.

Health reform - special issue of the MJA

For those interested in health reform, the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia has a number of articles addressing this topic, particularly as it relates to general practice.

The Croakey health blog also regularly features discussions on health reform. And for background on the health reform options that have featured in recent years see this Parliamentary Library paper by Anne-Marie Boxall and Luke Buckmaster.

(Image sourced from: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/193_02_190710/contents_190710.html)

Federal election 2010 - retirements

A number of Members and Senators have announced their intention not to re-contest the upcoming federal election. Nineteen Members of the House of Representatives (12.6% of the 150 seat chamber) and five Senators (6.5% of the 76 seat chamber) have indicated that they will retire at the election:

New - Journal of Social Inclusion

Last week former High Court of Australia justice, Michael Kirby launched the Griffith University-based Journal of Social Inclusion. The Journal is described as seeking to contribute to 'current knowledge and understanding of the social processes that marginalise individuals, families, groups and communities'.

Federal election announced

On Saturday, 17 July 2010, the Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that a federal election would be held on Saturday, 21 August 2010. The 42nd Parliament was prorogued and the House of Representatives dissolved at 5.00pm on Monday, 19 July 2010. Key dates for the 2010 federal election are:

- Announcement: Saturday, 17 July 2010
- Issue of writ: Monday, 19 July 2010
- Deadline to enrol to vote: 8pm Monday, 19 July 2010
- Deadline to update your electoral roll details (Close of rolls): 8pm Thursday, 22 July 2010
- Close of nominations: 12 noon Thursday, 29 July 2010
- Declaration of nominations: 12 noon Friday, 30 July 2010

Who's really time poor?

What exactly does it mean to be time poor? Is it simply a matter of work-life imbalance? Can anyone—poor or wealthy—be time poor? Or should time poverty actually be about more profound issues such as control over one’s life? These are the kinds of questions addressed by Professor Bob Goodin of the ANU in his keynote address to the 11th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference (Melbourne Convention Centre, 7 July). Goodin presented the findings of his research in the area of work-life balance (undertaken with colleagues, James Mahmud Rice, Antti Parpo and Lina Erikson) published in the book, Discretionary time: a new measure of freedom.