There are signs the iron grip that market ideology has had over Australian policymakers is starting to weaken.

It will take courage, time and money for governments to reorient care systems away from the market model towards what Considine calls a social model.

Under a social model, providers are connected to communities in an open, collaborative system and people who use services have a voice. Expertise from diverse sources – including clients, frontline workers, inspectors and researchers – is shared to drive innovation in the interests of clients.

Good care does not come cheap. Opportunistic corporate providers are deeply entrenched and commercial interests enjoy substantial protections. But Australians deserve better than the current arrangements.