The Prime Minister has chosen a GP's office in Blackburn to announce $310 million in funding for the training of hundreds of extra nurses and doctors.
Mr Howard said his plan will result in more medical graduates and an increased number of GP training places. The funding includes $164.5 million for 800,000 home visits to veterans and older Australians by practice nurses.
According to Howard: "The new Medicare provider item will mean that a practise nurse can visit any person over the age of 65 in their own home."
The PM was accompanied by his Treasurer and Health Minister who arrived late to his own health debate with Shadow Health Minister Nicola Roxon as a result of attending the policy announcement.
The announcement came after the PM's most colourful morning walk yet.
This morning, four women dressed in 1950s housewife garb, calling themselves the John Howard Ladies Auxiliary Fan Club, offered the PM “election viagra” from a jar labelled “xenophobia”, and an iced “yellow cake”. View the ladies by clickig on the Video tab above.
The leader’s minders quickly moved the women away, but soon after were confronted by two FM radio hosts decked out in “I love Luffy” t-shirts (a reference to Howard’s press secretary, David Luff) and yellow tracksuits.
The hosts gave Howard a rose, before blasting him with the Dire Straits song, Walk of Life, through a portable stereo.
Howard also recieved a few high-fives from passing runners, and a “get out of the way' and "have some consideration" from a less enthusiastic path user.