The Australian Health Care System: A Case Study

Benjamin Franklin once stated “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” (Freakonomics, 2011). Over two centuries have pass since Franklin’s death, and many would argue the addition of universally accessible healthcare to his list of life’s certainties. At some point, even the healthiest among us will be faced with the need for medical assistance, and without health insurance, medical bills could cause dire financial consequences to those in need, or be denied access to healthcare all together. Countries like Australia have developed complex frameworks to ensure all of their citizens have access to medical care, either from public or private sources. During the development of such complex systems, many facets

It has, however, a relatively small population. Australia is the only nation to govern an entire continent and its outlying islands. The mainland is the largest island and the smallest, flattest continent on Earth. It lies between 10° and 39° South latitudes. The highest point on the mainland, Mount Kosciuszko, is only 2,228 meters. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth, and its interior has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world, for about three-quarters of the land is arid or semi-arid, but its fertile areas are well-watered, and these are used very effectively to help feed the world. Sheep and cattle graze in dry country, but care must be taken with the soil. Areas of grazing land became desert when the long cycles that influence rainfall in Australia turned to drought (About Australia,

Over the past decade, inflation has typically been 2–3% and the base interest rate 5–6%. There is an efficient government sector, a flexible labor market and a very competitive business sector. Since 1992 Australia has averaged greater than 3 per cent economic growth and recorded over 17 consecutive years. This economic stability places Australia in the top echelon of developed countries in terms of sustained rates of growth. The Australian economy is dominated by its service sector, representing 68% of Australian GDP. The agricultural and mining sectors account for 57% of the nation’s exports. With its abundant physical resources, Australia has enjoyed a high standard of living since the nineteenth century. Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, particularly wheat and wool, minerals such as iron-ore and gold, and energy in the forms of liquefied natural gas and coal. It has made a comparatively large investment in social infrastructure, including education, training, health and transport. According to the Reserve Bank of Australia, Australian per capita GDP growth is higher than that of New Zealand, US, Canada and The Netherlands. The past performance of the Australian economy has been heavily influenced by US, Japanese and Chinese economic growth (About Australia,