Lancet' slams Govt on Indigenous health, climate change

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The independent medical journal, The Lancet has attacked the Prime Minister, John Howard, and some of his most senior ministers.

An editorial in the UK based journal's latest edition is headed "Australia the politics of fear and neglect".

It says the Prime Minister is complacent and profoundly intolerant of those less secure than himself and his administration.

It says he is ruthlessly tapping into a strong undercurrent of political conservatism in Australia.

The article also criticises the Health Minister Tony Abbott over Indigenous health and the Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull over climate change.

It calls for a change of government saying the election this year provides an opportunity at the ballot box to bring a new enlightenment to Australian health and medical science.

Tony Abbott has dismissed the attack on the Federal Government.

Mr Abbott says its a political judgement not a medical one and he does not take it too seriously.

"If [The] Lancet were to say that we still have a long way to go in Indigenous health, sure I'd be the first to agree, but they have engaged in a bit of gratuitous slag and bag and sure it's a free world and we believe in free speech - and they're entitled to their opinion - but on this issue it's just a political opinion," Mr Abbott said.

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