People's Inquiry into Privatisation

The function of the elected Government is not to tear down the fabric of government and flog it all off to the private sector, for the enrichment of business entrepreneurs with no knowledge or understanding of the traditions of the public service or service to the community. There is a healthy separation and an important independence within the Public Service which will be destroyed by privatising its functions. And there is clear evidence from any number of examples of this kind of privatising that it simply doesn’t work properly. The recent debacle with the Commonwealth Census is a shining example of what we DON’T want from Government. Failings in attempts to privatise prisons and detention centres, in attempts to privatise the provision of services within public hospitals, spring to mind as well.

Please don’t privatise our services

No privatisation please

stop selling things that dont belong to you. No one gave you a mandate to privatize any thing

stop selling things that dont belong to you. No one gave you a mandate to privatize any thing

why does our govt want to sell us out? please do not!

Many (if not most) of our ‘community services’ are provided by members of our community who don’t seek any payment. So seeing them all as potential profit-making enterprises is absurd, as is ignoring the fact that all these voluntary services are performed by people who are seen by this government as ‘taxed not’, ie as ‘leaners’.


It’s about time that such services are once again recognised for the real contribution that they make to the livability of our society. Just a few examples: child-rearing; caring for pre-school / disabled / elderly family members or neighbours; belonging to a local cultural group of some kind (eg visual arts, performing arts, local history, climate action, bush care, community education).


And this doesn’t include the various kinds of extra-curricular work done by professional people on a voluntary or cost-compensation basis), eg legal aid, literacy tutoring.


Or the mind-numbing (and even soul-destroying) work done by extremely low-paid workers, eg doing piece -work for the fashion industry; culling just-born male chickens, debeaking laying hens, and slaughtering and butchering animals for the the ‘food’ industry; maintaining local tips containing our excess waste; etc etc.


Money is NOT the most appropriate way to value all these jobs. People deserve to have work that is paid a living wage, but they also deserve jobs that are recognised as essential and valuable by other members of the community. Too many people who demonise ‘unemployed’ people would never be willing to do the kinds of jobs they expect others to do in abysmal working conditions and without being paid enough to support themselves or their families without getting any government assistance.


The only way to be sure that our societies are worth living in is for the government to provide properly paid and meaningful work for all those of working age, and give appropriate tax concessions only to those people who contribute to the community as a whole by doing essential and valuable voluntary work outside their fully recompensed employment.


Idealistic? I don’t think so. The neoliberal ‘trickle-down’ philosophy hasn’t worked for the vast majority of people on Earth since the 1980s, and particularly since the GFC. There is no justification for a very few people living off their accumulated wealth while more and more people rely on government assistance through no fault of their own.

I am writing to ask that the government does not privatize any of the healthcare system or Medicare, TAFE, hospitals, schools or disability care. The nature of private enterprise is to deprive the public of as much as they can, so that that money can be put into profits and massive salaries, bonus’s and perks. As there is only one Medicare, there would not even be a competitive element to supposedly keep them from blatant profiteering. People on low incomes would be forced to accept private big business exploitation with no real recourse at all. Being told to “take it to the Ombudsman” or the like has never resulted in any real help I have found. The Ombudsman and similar watch-dog bodies need far more funding to be effective, otherwise they just become token qestures. Already education and medical services are crippling in cost. Every person I know in the lower income bracket or even lower middle income, have massive debts. I have massive debts. I have returned to university, and already the student debt is almost insurmountable. This is blatant profiteering already. If the government shirks it’s elected duty to provide reasonable services for us, the Australian people who elected them, then they are deceiving us and letting us down most shamefully. We elected these politicians to serve us, the public dependent on them. If they take their massive salaries and do not do so, then they are robbing us. It is their duty, in all conscience, to provide good, high quality public health care and education. The rich can afford good quality education. But privatized ‘public’ schools and hospitals would just enable big business to shamelessly profiteer and leave the public bereft of any quality education or medical care. I most strongly ask that the public service be retained, and that all public schools, hospitals, and medical services be kept public and NOT be privatized.


Every Utility that has been Privatised has become more expensive because Corporations are obliged to satisfy their investors, NOT their customers. Privatising our Public Services will become too expensive for people on low incomes and the Government will not meet the shortfall. What is the point of a Government if it is not able to provide Public Services? Please look to the Scandinavian models of Government rather than the US or UK models where the disparity between Rich and Poor is increasing. This current Government is fostering Misery, Neglect and Poverty instead of Hope and Prosperity for the future.

I am writing to ask that the so called “Government” does not Privatise any of the Healthcare System or Medicare, TAFE, Hospitals, Schools or Disability Care. The nature of Private Enterprise is to deprive the public of as much as they can, so that that money can be put into Profits and massive Salaries, Bonus’s and Perks. As there is only one Medicare, there would not even be a competitive element to supposedly keep them from blatant Profiteering. People on low incomes would be forced to accept Private Big Business exploitation with no real recourse at all. Being told to “take it to the Ombudsman” or the like has never resulted in any real help I have found. The Ombudsman and similar watch-dog bodies need far more funding to be effective, otherwise they just become token qestures. Already Education and Medical services are crippling in cost. Every person I know in the lower income bracket or even lower middle income, have massive debts. Student debt is almost insurmountable. This is blatant profiteering already. If the Government shirks it’s elected duty to provide reasonable services for us, the Australian people who elected them, then they are deceiving us and letting us down most shamefully. We elected these Politicians to serve us, the public dependent on them. If they take their massive salaries and do not do so, then they are robbing us. It is their duty, in all conscience, to provide good, high quality Public Health Care and Education. The rich can afford good quality education and let’s face it, who has ever seen a poor Politician? But privatised ‘Public’ Schools and Hospitals would just enable Big Business to shamelessly Profiteer and leave the Public bereft of any quality Education or Medical care. I most strongly ask that the Public Service be retained, and that all Public Schools, Hospitals, and Medical Services be kept Public and NOT be Privatised.


Every Utility that has been Privatised has become more expensive because Corporations are obliged to satisfy their investors, NOT their customers. Privatising our Public Services will become too expensive for people on low incomes and the Government will not meet the shortfall. What is the point of a Government if it is not able to provide Public Services? Please look to the Scandinavian models of Government rather than the US or UK models where the disparity between Rich and Poor is increasing. This current Government is fostering Misery, Neglect and Poverty instead of Hope and Prosperity for the future.

I am writing to ask that the so called “Government” does not Privatise any of the Healthcare System or Medicare, TAFE, Hospitals, Schools or Disability Care. The nature of Private Enterprise is to deprive the public of as much as they can, so that that money can be put into Profits and massive Salaries, Bonus’s and Perks. As there is only one Medicare, there would not even be a competitive element to supposedly keep them from blatant Profiteering. People on low incomes would be forced to accept Private Big Business exploitation with no real recourse at all. Being told to “take it to the Ombudsman” or the like has never resulted in any real help I have found. The Ombudsman and similar watch-dog bodies need far more funding to be effective, otherwise they just become token qestures. Already Education and Medical services are crippling in cost. Every person I know in the lower income bracket or even lower middle income, have massive debts. I have massive debts. I have returned to University, and already the Student debt is almost insurmountable. This is blatant profiteering already. If the Government shirks it’s elected duty to provide reasonable services for us, the Australian people who elected them, then they are deceiving us and letting us down most shamefully. We elected these Politicians to serve us, the public dependent on them. If they take their massive salaries and do not do so, then they are robbing us. It is their duty, in all conscience, to provide good, high quality Public Health Care and Education. The rich can afford good quality education and let’s face it, who has ever seen a poor Politician? But privatised ‘Public’ Schools and Hospitals would just enable Big Business to shamelessly Profiteer and leave the Public bereft of any quality Education or Medical care. I most strongly ask that the Public Service be retained, and that all Public Schools, Hospitals, and Medical Services be kept Public and NOT be Privatised.


Every Utility that has been Privatised has become more expensive because Corporations are obliged to satisfy their investors, NOT their customers. Privatising our Public Services will become too expensive for people on low incomes and the Government will not meet the shortfall. What is the point of a Government if it is not able to provide Public Services? Please look to the Scandinavian models of Government rather than the US or UK models where the disparity between Rich and Poor is increasing. This current Government is fostering Misery, Neglect and Poverty instead of Hope and Prosperity for the future.

I am writing to ask that the so called “Government” does not Privatise any of the Healthcare System or Medicare, TAFE, Hospitals, Schools or Disability Care. The nature of Private Enterprise is to deprive the public of as much as they can, so that that money can be put into Profits and massive Salaries, Bonus’s and Perks. As there is only one Medicare, there would not even be a competitive element to supposedly keep them from blatant Profiteering. People on low incomes would be forced to accept Private Big Business exploitation with no real recourse at all. Being told to “take it to the Ombudsman” or the like has never resulted in any real help I have found. The Ombudsman and similar watch-dog bodies need far more funding to be effective, otherwise they just become token qestures. Already Education and Medical services are crippling in cost. Every person I know in the lower income bracket or even lower middle income, have massive debts. I have massive debts. I have returned to University, and already the Student debt is almost insurmountable. This is blatant profiteering already. If the Government shirks it’s elected duty to provide reasonable services for us, the Australian people who elected them, then they are deceiving us and letting us down most shamefully. We elected these Politicians to serve us, the public dependent on them. If they take their massive salaries and do not do so, then they are robbing us. It is their duty, in all conscience, to provide good, high quality Public Health Care and Education. The rich can afford good quality education and let’s face it, who has ever seen a poor Politician? But privatised ‘Public’ Schools and Hospitals would just enable Big Business to shamelessly Profiteer and leave the Public bereft of any quality Education or Medical care. I most strongly ask that the Public Service be retained, and that all Public Schools, Hospitals, and Medical Services be kept Public and NOT be Privatised.

Every Utility that has been Privatised has become more expensive because Corporations are obliged to satisfy their investors, NOT their customers. Privatising our Public Services will become too expensive for people on low incomes and the Government will not meet the shortfall. What is the point of a Government if it is not able to provide Public Services? Please look to the Scandinavian models of Government rather than the US or UK models where the disparity between Rich and Poor is increasing. This current Government is fostering Misery, Neglect and Poverty instead of Hope and Prosperity for the future.

Greed is Bad, & weak.

I am writing to ask that the government does not privatize any of the healthcare system or Medicare, TAFE, hospitals, schools or disability care. The nature of private enterprise is to deprive the public of as much as they can, so that that money can be put into profits and massive salaries, bonus’s and perks. As there is only one Medicare, there would not even be a competitive element to supposedly keep them from blatant profiteering. People on low incomes would be forced to accept private big business exploitation with no real recourse at all. Being told to “take it to the Ombudsman” or the like has never resulted in any real help I have found. The Ombudsman and similar watch-dog bodies need far more funding to be effective, otherwise they just become token qestures. Already education and medical services are crippling in cost. Every person I know in the lower income bracket or even lower middle income, have massive debts. I have massive debts. I have returned to university, and already the student debt is almost insurmountable. This is blatant profiteering already. If the government shirks it’s elected duty to provide reasonable services for us, the Australian people who elected them, then they are deceiving us and letting us down most shamefully. We elected these politicians to serve us, the public dependent on them. If they take their massive salaries and do not do so, then they are robbing us. It is their duty, in all conscience, to provide good, high quality public health care and education. The rich can afford good quality education. But privatized ‘public’ schools and hospitals would just enable big business to shamelessly profiteer and leave the public bereft of any quality education or medical care. I most strongly ask that the public service be retained, and that all public schools, hospitals, and medical services be kept public and NOT be privatized.

Privatisation never works for the public good, for private companies rely on profit. Egalitarianism is not a profit. Charities are volunteer organisations and subject to goodwill, which is in short supply nowadays with such fear and loathing rhetoric stemming from conservative interests.

Monetary interest will always influence privatisation, as does corruption of government subsidies to these private institutions. It is in their interests to rort the system.

Health care for all is an undeniable right for our country, as we pay the taxes.

Lift the Medicare ceiling; don’t make it concrete and permanent.

Education, Health, Security, Law, Sanitation and our environment are all aspects of Australia we cannot afford to lose to the highest bidder.

Stop privatising public healthcare

Every utility that has been privatised has become more expensive because corporations are obliged to satisfy their investors, NOT their customers. Privatising our public services will become too expensive for people on low incomes and the government will not meet the shortfall. What is the point of government if it is not able to provide public services? Please look to the Scandinavian models of government rather than the US or UK models where the disparity between rich and poor is increasing. This current government is fostering misery, neglect and poverty instead of hope and prosperity for the future.

Privatisation of public assets in South Australia was a huge mistake as private companies neglected to repair and maintain services so that businesses are regularly disrupted and people are left without services on a regular basis eg. SA Water, public transport, and Modbury Hospital to name a few.


Morever private companies increase charges straight away and services for people on low incomes quickly become unaffordable. When electricity was privatised the government had to step in and impose fines and penalties on the company in order to ensure availability of supply to customers. We have been paying the highest electricity prices in the nation. Privatisation of health services would be very concerning as it affects peoples’ lives. The matter of life and death should not have to depend on the size of your wallet. Outsourcing services to private companies often involves sending australian jobs offshore which would increase our unemployment rate. Hardly a menu for jobs and growth of our economy.


Once all of our public assets are sold there is no turning back. Why does the government feel it necessary to “sell off the farm”?

Privatisation of public assets in South Australia was a huge mistake as private companies neglected to repair and maintain services so that businesses are regularly disrupted and people are left without services on a regular basis eg. SA Water, public transport, and Modbury Hospital to name a few.

Morever private companies increase charges straight away and services for people on low incomes quickly become unaffordable. When electricity was privatised the government had to step in and impose fines and penalties on the company in order to ensure availability of supply to customers. We have been paying the highest electricity prices in the nation. Privatisation of health services would be very concerning as it affects peoples’ lives. The matter of life and death should not have to depend on the size of your wallet. Outsourcing services to private companies often involves sending australian jobs offshore which would increase our unemployment rate. Hardly a menu for jobs and growth of our economy.

Once all of our public assets are sold there is no turning back. Why does the government feel it necessary to “sell off the farm”?

Privatisation is economically reprehensible.

Please don’t let those who are supposed to represent us, deal us with such a cruel act.

As with all cases of privatisation, it only serves to line the pockets of the rich and will do the same thing in regards to healthcare, making health a privelege and not a right. Healthcare SHOULD be a RIGHT.


It has been demonstrated in other countries that have privatised health care that the level of services and care drops in the grab for profits. The costs also dramatically increase for operations, tests, therapy and everything related to medical care. You do not have to look further than the USA as an example—and a BAD example at that. We in Australia do not want nor need that kind of system.


I rely completely on bulk billing for my medical needs and the PBS for my medicines. I rely on free blood and other medical tests and doctor visits for my regular health checks. There are times I go to the doctor without a cent, as I often go for days on end with no money at all, which is not a unique situation, but is sadly the norm for too many of us.


Privatisation benefits the few at the expense of the many, and the government should remember that it’s the many who employ them—and can sack them at elections—not the few. Do not privatise healthcare.

No to privatisation of healthcare! Yes to removing emmunity to all polititions.

As a registered nurse I submit the following evaluation: privatisation only serves to line the pockets of the rich in regards to healthcare. I have worked in several countries and can attest to the lack of standards and quality of healthcare in the private sector. I can also attest to the appalling fall in cleanliness standards, the rise in hospital acquired infections and rise in staff sick levels once privatisation commences in public hospitals.

I have also had the misfortune to be a patient in a private healthcare facility where I had to discharge myself prematurely due to deliberate short staffing effectively causing acute discomfort and distress to myself after fairly major surgery.

Despite the fact that I pay private healthcare insurance now, I would be insistent, in emergency, upon being taken to any public hospital for treatment.

Profit making schemes have no place in healthcare.

Say NO to privatisation.

It has been proven in other countries that have privatized health care that the level of services drop in the grab for profits. The health costs also dramatically increase. You do not have to look further than the USA as an example. We do not want that kind of system.

Our system works but it has been starved of funds by successive governments. We the people are prepared to pay higher taxes to protect our health system as it stands and was designed to be, but also education. Say NO to privatization.