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John Menadue

Bio

John Menadue AO is a Centre for Policy Development Board Director. He headed the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1974 to 1976, working for Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser. After four years as Ambassador to Japan, he returned to Australia in 1980 to head the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. He was CEO of Qantas between 1986 and 1989, and continues to advise several national companies. He has recently chaired major Health reviews in NSW and SA.

John Menadue's contributions:

What is the health service for? Where is the strategy in health reform?

CPD Board Director John Menadue AO presented "What is the health service for? Where is the strategy in health reform?" for the Victorian Healthcare Association's Annual Conference in Melbourne, 17 October 2008.


Health: the importance of getting principles right

John Menadue AO warns that federal Labor may be getting its priorities backwards on health reform. Without a clear understanding of what principles Australians want their health system to be based on, any efforts to reform what we have will be rudderless.


Obstacles to Health Reform

The problem with health reform is that even when major redesign is necessary, many ‘reformers' continue to think incrementally, says CPD Chair John Menadue.


CPD launch speech - John Menadue

"Australia has too much politics and not enough policy", said John Menadue. "We need to know what political parties and governments stand for – their values and principles. That is so whoever wins the next election. It will even be more important if there is a change of government."


Breaking the Commonwealth/State Impasse in Health: a coalition of the willing

John Menadue proposes a coalition of the willing to reform the delivery of health services by Federal and State governments.


The patient journey: unravelling the maze

John Menadue explains what needs to be done to put patients and the community at the centre of our health system.


Clarification: what we really mean by universalism

John Menadue explains why A Health Policy for Australia criticises the private insurance industry. 



Getting Better Value for Money in Health

Evidence provided by the Centre for Policy Development chair John Menadue to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing Enquiry into Health Funding – Sydney Friday 21 July 2006


Making Federalism Work: Australian Partnership Agreements

In anticipation of next week's COAG meeting and following the Treasurer's comments on federalism earlier this week, John Menadue introduces a report commissioned by the Victorian Government that calls for Australian Partnership Agreement between the States and the Commonwealth. Menadue applauds the Victorian Government for pursing reform of federalism to improve the quality of service provision, particularly in health and education


Eating the Seed Wheat

John Menadue launched Our Common Wealth with a call for 'hochmar' -– the science of the heart –- the capacity to see, to feel and then to act as if the future depends on you.


How the politically urgent pushes the important aside

In a recent address to health science students at the University of South Australia, John Menadue described the two main problems at the heart of our health system: a medicalised and specialised approach based on treating sickness rather than keeping people well; and a hospital-centric system that neglects the importance of care in the community and in the home. Menadue calls for a seismic shift, prioritising long-term solutions over short-term fixes


Subsidising Private Health Insurance: throwing more good money after bad

John Menadue argues that private health insurance in its current form is unsustainable. He criticises the government's $3 billion subsidy for being inefficient. It is skewed towards affluent Australians and private health insurance funds passively pass on rising costs to customers rather than negotiating for better deals. On balance Menadue believes that private health insurance must be accepted, but he calls for the $3 billion subsidy to be diverted towards more efficient and socially beneficial areas.


Spin doctors and the micro-management of health

John Menadue writes, Micro-management cannot be blamed on the federal government or others. It is a creation of state ministers and their minders. Many of them are proud of it and have been delighted to export their media management and micro-management skills to other state governments. They ignore the consequences for the management of the health system.


Human Rights Act needed because of institutional failures

John Menadue explains that he changed his attitude to a Human Rights Act because of 'the major institutional failures of our time - the erosion of accountability in the Westminster parliamentary system, and the even more dramatic institutional failure of the media to expose abuse of power.'


Curing Sick Hospitals

John Menadue writes, 'A state handover of health services to the Commonwealth may be politically too difficult for some states. A practical and feasible alternative which is being canvassed, would be to establish a joint Commonwealth/State Health Commission in any state where the two governments could agree.'


Health Sector Reform Part 1: Workforce Reform

In early June 2005 the Council of Australian Governments meeting, the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers acknowledged the need for health workforce reform. A report is expected from the Productivity Commission by the end of the year. My concern is that it will only be more of the same, more training the same way, and more employment the same way, when we really need root and branch change. We need to train and employ in quite new ways.



Where do we go from here?

John Menadue on defining values and principles.


Values and principles

This week Craig Emerson and Senator Lyn Allison discuss values and principles in the policy portal


Common Wealth

Here are principles that resonate and appeal, and on which we can build distinctive policies for Australia. By John Menadue


The Hospital tail wags the Health Dog

John Menadue in a speech to the Australian College of Health Service Executives in Brisbane on the 22nd of February 2005.


Re-engaging communities

John Menadue states,'there is ample evidence that we want to participate if we feel that our views are valued and will be reasonably acted upon. Polls show that whilst we are disillusioned with politicians we still want to be part of the political process.'


Building blocks for a national health policy

A summary of what we consider to be the key building blocks around which a national health policy should be built.



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