3.7 Ministerial Responsibilities

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

The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing

• 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 blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted diseases including 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);
• rural and regional health;
• biosecurity and bioterrorism;
• diagnostics and technology;
• e-health;
• alcohol;
• tobacco;
• illicit drugs; and
• asthma.

The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing

• Mental Health and Suicide Prevention;
• The National Strategy for an Ageing Australia;
• The National Continence Management Strategy;
• a range of programs to meet the needs of Australia’s ageing population, including:
  • Home and Community Care Program;
  • Residential Care;
  • The National Respite for Carers Program, 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 Service Program and policy;
• injury and falls prevention;
• arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions;
• palliative care;
• health and medical research; and
• human cloning and stem cell research.

The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health

As Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Warren Snowdon MP, has 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.
• men’s health.

The Hon Catherine King MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing

• 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;
• nanotechnologies;
• gene technology;
• blood and organ donation; and
• Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy.

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