Big brother - a mere 26 years late

Last 24 June Julia Gillard became Prime Minister of Australia. Predictably, Kevin Rudd’s ousting and Julia Gillard’s ascension created a media frenzy. So hardly anyone noticed a momentous event that occurred on 25 June, i.e. passage through the Senate of the Healthcare Identifiers Bill 2010 [1]. This Act [2], which received Royal Assent on 28 June, enables the compulsory allocation (no opting out) of a 16-digit electronic healthcare identifying number to every Australian [3]. This number will store each individual’s name, address and birthdate. No clinical information will be stored with it. All healthcare providers will use this unique number for each patient. Use of the identifiers will allegedly facilitate communication between providers. The clinical information collected and stored by each provider will not be seen by other providers. The identifiers will be gradually rolled out by Medicare Australia, nominally from last 1 July. The system’s predicted to become fully operational next October [4]. After that, doctors, hospitals and the Australian public can obtain the numbers by telephoning Medicare Australia. The identifier’s use may reduce government healthcare costs, but as it’s not linked to clinical data it can’t per se benefit patients. It reeks of Big Brother and 1984. Twenty six years late. It’s enough to make me quiver in my boots. And George Orwell (pictured) to roll over in his grave [5, 6]. Ho hum.

This week's compendium

Here’s this week’s compendium. This week…

1. film director Oliver Stone showed the world – again – what a bigot he is [1]. He’d have to be a friend of Mel Gibson’s, wouldn’t he? And Helen Thomas’s too.

2. the ageing ex football star I’ve mentioned before [2a, 2b, 2c] was fined on a road rage (i.e. parking rage) charge [2d]. Why would his behaviour change?

3. I loved this treehugger article explaining how tradition knowledge informs innovation [3]. As I’m an old guy, of course I’d love it.

4. the Age reported how Myki smart cards, newly introduced on Victoria’s public transport, are allowing police to track people’s movements [4]. Big Brother’s not a member of my family.

5. Nutrition Diva said that regarding supplements for osteoarthritis: don’t bother with chondroitin, and try glucosamine for three months as it either works or it doesn’t [5]. It didn’t work for me.

6. I came across the concept of ‘free range children’ [6]. And I think it’s a good one.

7. I was impressed by a couple growing all the food for their 100-person wedding reception [7]. Good for them; and all their guests.

8. Prime Minister Gillard unveiled a ‘cash for clunkers’ scheme funded by cuts to existing renewable energy programmes [8]. It may (or may not) be a vote winner, but it’s stupid.

Finally, I wish you, dear Farmdoc’s Blog readers, a wonderful week.

List: Female prime minsters

Today’s ‘List Friday’. Yesterday was a momentous day in Australia’s history. Julie Eilleen Gillard (pictured), aged 48 and Welsh-born, became our first female prime minister [1]. This prompted the following email responses: From US daughter:‘omg a female prime minister. i am unbelievably stoked, and hope she can hang in there!!!!!!!’ From younger Daylesford daughter: ‘And what news about Gillard, huh! Not that I think she will make a difference, but us Welsh chicks have to stick together...’ And from my accountant Michelle: ‘Hey our first female Prime Minister – the girls are in charge!!’ It’s all so exciting. As I’ve previously written, my four darling daughters have made me an honorary woman [2]. So I know what I’m talking about. And I think the Mars and Venus thing [3] makes women better suited (pun unintended) to politics and leadership. Time will tell.

Given all of this, today’s list must be a list of female prime ministers. So here are two of them [4, 5]. I haven’t compared them side by side. But on a quick reckoning Julia Gillard’s the world’s 49th female prime minister. Not bad for the daughter of a Welsh miner, eh.

I wish her success. I’d love her to be the driving force for a better Australia. A fairer Australia. A republican Australia. A respected Australia. And especially an Australia that leads the international response to global warming and climate change. Go for it, Julia.