Reply #5: Don't blame the citation. It was a government official who made the assertion.

[MADem]

Here, a citation you might like better: http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/medicare-may-collapse-in-five-years-nsw-20090603-buqh.html

Medicare may collapse in five years: NSW June 3, 2009
There's limited time to reform the nation's health system amid fears Medicare could collapse within five years, the NSW government says.

NSW Health director-general Deborah Picone has given a dire prognosis for the current system, saying Australia is heading towards US-style user pays.

Prof Picone says cost escalations mean universal health care could collapse within five years.

She is pushing for a system where funding from the commonwealth and states is pooled and then redistributed.

NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca backs her claims.

"Prof Picone and many, many commentators in the medical system ... are telling me that we have a limited window of opportunity to preserve the great public hospital system that we have," he told reporters....