Part 3.7: Ministerial Responsibilities (As at 30 June 2010)

We value accountability to our Ministers and Parliamentary Secretary, Parliament and the public.

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP Minister for Health and Ageing

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, as senior Minister and member of Cabinet, held overarching policy responsibility for all issues pertaining to health and ageing, including high level responsibility for the portfolio’s responsibilities relating to the Council of Australian Governments’ reform agenda, and had specific administrative responsibility for:

Medicare benefits;
hospitals;
medical indemnity;
private health insurance;
health workforce issues (including policy oversight of all areas of workforce distribution, education and training);
the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
pharmacy issues;
population health, including issues concerning HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, immunisation, obesity, specific women’s health issues, environmental health issues and drug abuse reduction;
eye health;
national health priorities with the exception of injury prevention, arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions;
biosecurity and bioterrorism;
diagnostics and technology;
e-Health;
mental health and suicide prevention;
illicit drugs;
alcohol; and
tobacco.

The Hon Justine Elliot MP Minister for Ageing

The Hon Justine Elliot MP had responsibility for:

National Strategy for an Ageing Australia;
National Continence Management Strategy;
a range of programs to meet the needs of Australia’s ageing population, including:
- Home and Community Care;
- Residential Care;
- National Respite for Carers – including the Carer Information and Support Program, Carer Respite Centres and Carer Resource Centres;
- Aged Care Assessment;
- Community Aged Care Packages;
- Assistance with Care and Housing for the Aged;
- Complaints Resolution Scheme;
- Dementia Support Services;
- Advocacy Services; and
- Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency;
multipurpose services;
Hearing Services Program and policy;
injury and falls prevention;
arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions; and
palliative care.

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The Hon Warren Snowdon MP Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery

The Hon Warren Snowdon MP had responsibility for:

Indigenous health including;
- prevention and management of chronic disease by Indigenous health services;
- child and maternal health;
- improved access to effective substance use and health services;
- social and emotional wellbeing services; and
- workforce capacity;
rural and regional health including;
- access by rural and remote communities to medical specialist outreach services and multidisciplinary team care, including allied health services;
- health infrastructure (in rural and remote communities);
- prevention and promotion activities in rural and remote communities, except where part of broader policy such as aged care or cancer;
- rural and remote primary care workforce; and
- development of a national strategic framework/plan for rural and remote health;
men’s health; and
Papua New Guinea cross border health issues.

The Hon Kate Ellis MP Minister for Sport

The Hon Kate Ellis MP had responsibility for:

National sports policy and programs;
Australian Sports Commission (including enabling legislation);
Australian Sports Foundation;
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (including enabling legislation);
Australian Sports Drugs Medical Advisory Committee;
World Anti-Doping Agency;
UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention;
International Anti-Doping Arrangement;
Anti-Doping Research Program;
Indigenous Sport and Recreation Program;
National Recreation Safety Program (water and snow safety);
ad hoc grants for sports facilities;
ad hoc grants for major sporting events;
sport and leisure industry development;
sport intellectual property framework;
Commonwealth involvement in major sporting events; and
Commonwealth Sports Ministers’ Meeting.

The Hon Mark Butler MP Parliamentary Secretary for Health

The Hon Mark Butler MP assisted Ms Roxon by assuming responsibility for matters relating to:

Therapeutic Goods Administration;
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator;
National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme;
Office of Chemical Safety;
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency;
Food Standards Australia New Zealand;
National Blood Authority;
food policy;
blood and organ donation;
blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections;
health and medical research;
biotechnology;
human cloning and stem cell research;
nanotechnologies; and
Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy.

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