Battle for Bennelong: ‘Mediscare Mk II’ won’t work, John Alexander says

MP John Alexander says he’s “more committed” than ever, ready to take the fight to Labor’s ‘Mr Medicare’ Dr Brian Owler.

Liberal MP John Alexander says “Mediscare Mk II” will not work in the upcoming campaign for the marginal NSW seat of Bennelong as he prepares to fight Labor’s new star candidate Brian Owler.

Dr Owler, the former head of the Australian Medical Association, was introduced to Bennelong voters as “Mr Medicare” by Bill Shorten earlier today.

Mr Alexander, a former tennis star, said he was “more committed than ever” to running in John Howard’s old seat which he has held since 2010.

“What appeals to voters is the truth. We suffered from the Mediscare campaign at the by-election and the previous election that we all know was based on falsehoods,” he said.

“If this is Mediscare Mk II, it doesn’t deserve to win and it will be exposed for what it is. It is not truthful. We are committed to Medicare. We are committed to health.”

As AMA chief, Dr Owler was a leading critic of Coalition government health policy especially after the 2014 federal budget.

Mr Alexander defeated former NSW premier and current senator Kristina Keneally at last year’s by-election but suffered a more than 5 per cent swing against him.

‘Mr Medicare’ to run for Labor

Earlier, Mr Shorten declared Medicare will be the biggest issue at the next election as he unveiled Dr Owler as Labor’s candidate.

The Opposition Leader said Dr Owler would help bring Medicare to the front and centre of Labor’s election campaign.

In a hark back to the so-called “Mediscare” campaign in the 2016 election, Mr Shorten accused the government of freezing Medicare funding and outsourcing parts of the service to private companies.

Dr Brian Owler. Picture: AAP

“There are plenty of issues in the next federal election but no issue is any more important than healthcare. One of the reasons why I want to be Prime Minister is to put health care back up the top of the charts when it comes to the policies of the national government,” Mr Shorten said.

“And to that end, demonstrating Labor’s absolute commitment to making sure that healthcare is a number-one issue in this election, to making sure that Medicare gets the important treatment it deserves, I’m pleased to announce that Dr Brian Owler will be nominating to become the Labor candidate for Bennelong at the next federal election.

“Mr Medicare is coming to Canberra to make sure that we put Medicare and health care right up the top.”

Bennelong has been held by the Liberal Party since its inception in 1949, except when Labor’s Maxine McKew won it off Mr Howard at the 2007 election.

Ms McKew only held the seat for one term before losing it to Mr Alexander. Mr Alexander defeated Kristina Keneally, now a Labor senator, in a by-election last year.

Dr Owler, a neurosurgeon who helped design Victoria’s euthanasia laws, said he came from a modest background.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten with newly announced Labor candidate for Bennelong Dr Brian Owler. Picture: AAP

“I came form a fairly modest background but my parents worked hard, I worked hard, and through the opportunities of education and school and university, I was able to become a doctor and of course a neurosurgeon,” Dr Owler said.

“I have fought hard and passionately to defend Medicare and our excellent Australian healthcare system against the constant attacks from a Liberal Coalition government.

“I have been successful in doing that and I believe that it is Labor that will protect Medicare and also invest in our healthcare system.”

Dr Owler acknowledged winning the seat of Bennelong would be an “enormous task”, while Mr Shorten called it “very hard to win” for Labor.

HISTORY OF THE BENNELONG ELECTORATE

* Covers 60sq/km on Sydney’s lower north shore.

* 1974-2007: Held by former prime minister John Howard until he was defeated by Labor candidate and former ABC journalist Maxine McKew.

* 2007-2010: McKew lasted only one term after being challenged by Liberal candidate and former tennis professional John Alexander. He won the seat after swing of 4.5 per cent.

* 2010-2018: Alexander was forced to step down in 2017 after getting caught up in parliament’s dual-citizenship crisis. He renounced his British citizenship to run against star Labor candidate and former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally in a by-election. He held on despite a swing of more than five per cent to Labor.

WHO IS BRIAN OWLER?

* Labor’s high-profile candidate.

* Neurosurgeon working at Westmead Children’s Hospital, Westmead Private, Sydney Adventist Hospital at Wahroonga and Norwest Private Hospital.

* The associate professor was president of the Australian Medical Association from 2014 to 2016 and previously president of the AMA in NSW.

* He has been an advocate for pool and road safety, having worked on NSW’s “Don’t Rush” advertising campaign targeted at reducing speed-related road accidents.

WHO IS JOHN ALEXANDER?

* Incumbent Liberal MP.

* A tennis champion whose career spanned the 1960s to the 1980s. He claimed seven singles titles and 27 doubles titles.

* Headed Tennis Australia’s player development and was coach of the Federation Cup team.

* Has an interest in housing affordability, being among Liberal MPs to have urged the government to rethink its opposition to changes to negative gearing.

With AAP