| | Opposition accused of vote buying with hospital staff
In the report released by the Health Ministry earlier this year, investigators found that the company had signed an agreement with a hospital that would make the company pay a commission of 30 per cent as the result of payments to the hospital's staff. In this case, the agreement has since been removed.
The Health Minister had said that no payments had been made.
The hospital, which was then a tertiary care hospital, has since said the doctor should have paid some of his commission for his services to a hospital employee who was also a nurse at the hospital.
The Department of Health also stated that the contract was approved "on a company by company basis and not on the basis of a general agreement".
Liberals elect turnbull as leader of Australian party Read more
Turnbull's position as an advocate of anti-discrimination and gay marriage reflects growing conservative confidence in Abbott's ability to deliver on his promise to reverse the country's conservative policies, but it has also become apparent to some that Australia faces a generational struggle over social issues such as same-sex marriage.
As with Abbott, there have also been concerns about the Turnbull government's ability to meet the rising demands on social programs such as welfare.
The government was criticised in the US for failing to meet key targets it set to reduce the share of the population on welfare and to provide more education to make up for low enrolment rates. It is expected to announce a new welfare cutback when it releases its first budget on Monday.
In addition, concerns have emerged that the government may not be able to secure the support of Australia's religious leaders.
A study by Pew Research found that while the United States is more tolerant than Australia of same-sex marriage, the number of Americans that have actively opposed the change has increased from 1.7% in 2011 to 7.8% last year.
The Australian government has already faced criticism over its handling of an anti-immigration rally by far-right Australian group One Nation ahead of the G20 summit in Brisbane on July 18.
During the rally, one group of protesters “ wearing red MAGA hats “ waved Australia's flag, a symbol for far-right groups, over the heads of foreign officials and a handful of Australian media.
The government later announced a police presence near the rally, although this was later withdrawn after the event's organisers said the flag had been placed in a safe place.
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