DRUNKS, DRUGGIES AND SMOKERS WHO FALL SICK COULD BE FINED AND DENIED HELP UNDER TOUGH RADICAL REFORMS

THEY FACE HEFTY FINES OF UP TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS AND BANNED FROM USING HEALTH SERVICES

I am really dismayed and angry at the staggering number of people falling ill due to drugs, alcohol and smoking.

Should I ever be health minister, I will be looking at ways to stop or reduce the number of people falling ill due to alcohol, drugs and smoking, I refuse to rule out imposing hefty fines in the millions for people who make presentations at emergency departments with alcohol, drug and smoking related illmess and injuries. The 1st offence will see the offender face a 1 million dollar fine on top of a ban imposed on him from using health services. The 2nd offence will result in a a 5 million dollar fine to be paid to the health department.

Even if the offenders are in ill health they will still have to face court in the same manner as everybody else who commit crimes. They will not be eligible for legal aid meaning they will be responsible for their own legal and court costs on top of the penalty imposed. They will also no longer be covered by Medicare. When they drink, smoke or do drugs they are seen as breaching the rules of Medicare and therefore they lose the right to have access to Medicare.

Look they have lots of money to afford alcohol, drugs and smokes, so I reckon they can afford private health cover or the full medical / hospital / legal / court costs.

And they will be banned from using health services unless in critical sitautions.

I would like to see the justice departments take part in looking after the "patients" with alcohol, smoking and drug related illness. I just don't believe it is fair that the doctors and medical staff should have to look after those people who drink, smoke or do drugs and I feel that it should be the responsibility of the justice departments to deal with drunks, smokers and druggies.

I believe in deterrence, not rehab or education. It's the individual's own responsibility to educate himself of the dangers of drinking alcohol, smoking and doing drugs, no one else should have to educate those idiots not to drink alcohol or use drugs to excessive levels.

The aim is to reduce the number of drunks, druggies and smokers from turning up at hospitals. Those people are just a waste of space because they won't try to help themselves.

William Walker