16:00 - Aged care has been revealed as the subject of John Howard's health annoucment with the Prime Minister pledging $250 million for a range of services including transitional care places for older Australians leaving hospital, increased community care packages and double the funding for nursing homes.
Mr Howard said the measure would have the "consequence not only of providing superior care, but also freeing up public hospital beds for those who need acute care."
"Everybody who's studied this problem knows that we need more public hospital beds, and one way of having more public hospital beds is to provide alternative support for older people in the community."
12:00 - John Howard and Health Minister Tony Abbott have arrived at Cairns Private Hospital where they are expected to deliver a major health announcement.
08:00 - John Howard and his party's Leichardt hopeful, Charlie McKillop, were confronted by two seperate groups of protestors on a walk through Cairns this morning.
First they were accosted by two climate change protestors dressed as polar bears, who shouted: "Save our planet now Mr Howard, ratify Kyoto now."
Surrounding party faithful shouted back: "You idiot bear go back, idiot bear, stupid bear."
Minutes later the campaigners were confronted by infamous Lucy the sheep, who was attempting to raise awareness over live animal exports.
Watch the ordeal by clicking the video tab above.
Please wait while the video player loads...