Health ministers named
September 17, 2013
INCOMING prime minister Tony
Abbott yesterday confirmed the
appointment of Peter Dutton as
Australia’s new Minister for Health,
and he will also be Minister for
Sport in the new Cabinet.
Abbott said that mental health
would be part of Dutton’s portfolio,
but newly appointed Minister for
Social Services, Mitch Fifield, will
be responsible for disabilities and
aged care.
And rather than a Parliamentary
Secretary for Health, Abbott has
appointed Fiona Nash as Assistant
Minister for Health, while Marise
Payne is the new Minister for
Human Services.
Stakeholders from across the
industry have welcomed the
appointments, with Medicines
Australia saying that with more
than four years as Shadow Health
Minister, Dutton “understands how
the business model of this industry
operates and the important role
we play in delivering medicines to
Australian patients”.
PSA national president Grant
Kardachi said the appointments
reflected the Coalition goverment’s
commitment to the health sector,
and would be welcomed by
pharmacists across the country.
“Mr Dutton has always displayed
great interest in the wide range of
skills pharmacists possess and how
these skills can be better utilised
in providing improved health
outcomes for the community”.
The Pharmacy Guild congratulated
the ministers on their new roles,
having enjoyed a good working
relationship with Dutton while in
opposition.
“There are many current issues
of importance to community
pharmacy and to pharmacy
patients, and we look forward to
engaging on these with the new
Minister,” the Guild said.
And as well as welcoming the
new health ministers, the Generic
Medicines Industry Association
said it was keen to explore options
“to maintain a responsible and
viable medicines industry” with
new Minister for Industry, Ian
Macfarlane and Minister for Trade
and Investment, Andrew Robb.
The Australian Self-Medication
Industry urged the new govt to
ensure health policies focus on selfcare,
while new Complementary
Healthcare Council ceo Carl Gibson
encouraged the ministers to “invest
in a healthy Australia”.
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