Health minister criticised for not defending Medicare

According to The Australian, a small group of Coalition MPs want Ms Ley sacked from the health portfolio, saying she should have played a more prominent role in defending the government from the opposition’s Medicare campaign.On the day of the Federal Election, the Labor Party claimed the Liberal-National Coalition, if re-elected, would privatise the universal health sche – a claim that was not countered by Ms Ley.The claim was said to be regarded by observers and commentators as a major reason for the swing against the government in the election, although not sufficient to unseat it.The Coalition denied the privatisation claim but Australians seed unconvinced and it became a major issue.It is claimed that the Coalition’s campaign headquarters effectively ‘gagged’ Ms Ley by denying requests for her to take part in a debate on health at the National Press Club.Among possible replacents for Ms Ley, should she be moved sideways or lose her portfolio, are rumoured to be three junior ministers who lost their seats in the election – Messrs Peter Hendy, Richard Colbeck and Wyatt Roy.Other names being mentioned for the health portfolio include fellow cabinet ministers Messrs Christian Porter, Josh Frydenberg, Simon Birmingham and Greg Hunt.