Media Releases and Communiques
This section of the site lists Australian Health Ministers’ Conference media releases and communiques. All Australian Government, State, Territory and New Zealand Ministers with direct responsibility for health matters, including the Australian Government Minister for Veterans' Affairs are Members of AHMC. The Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) charter is to provide effective and efficient support to the Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC).
Date: 10/8/2012
Title: Standing Council on Health Communique - 10 August 2012
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met in Sydney on 10 August for a meeting of the Standing Council on Health. The meeting was chaired by Dr Kim Hames, WA Minister for Health.
Date: 27/4/2012
Title: Standing Council on Health - Health Workforce 2025
Description:
Date: 27/4/2012
Title: Standing Council on Health - Communique - 27 April 2012
Description:
Date: 11/11/2011
Title: Standing Council on Health - Joint Communique - 11 November 2011
Description:
Date: 5/8/2011
Title: Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council Communiqué
Description:
Health Workforce Ministers meet in Darwin to discuss national health workforce issues.
Date: 5/8/2011
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Communiqué
Description:
Australian Health Ministers completed a two day meeting of the Australian Health Ministers Conference in Darwin, chaired by WA Health Minister, Dr Kim Hames.
Date: 7/6/2011
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Communique - 7 June 2011
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met in Melbourne on 7 June and reached in principle agreement on legislation to establish the National Health Performance Authority as the next stage of national health reform.
Date: 6/5/2011
Title: Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council Communiqué
Description:
Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for the regulation of food and beverages met in Canberra today and decided on further actions to address the ongoing health concerns associated with formulated caffeinated energy drinks.
Date: 25/2/2011
Title: Ministerial Council On Drug Strategy
Description:
Ministers responsible for illegal and legal drugs met in Perth on 25 February to tackle some of the big issues facing governments and the community with regard to the harms caused by drugs and alcohol.
Date: 17/2/2011
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Communique
Description:
The Australian Health Ministers' Conference met in Hobart on 17 February
Date: 17/2/2011
Title: Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council Communique
Description:
The Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council met in Hobart on 17 February
Date: 15/12/2010
Title: Ministerial Conference on Ageing Communiqué
Description:
Australian and New Zealand Ministers responsible for ageing met in Melbourne on 15 December to discuss health and ageing matters affecting older people.
Date: 12/11/2010
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Joint Communiqué
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met in Adelaide for the Australian Health Ministers Conference, chaired by The Hon John Hill, SA Minister for Health.
Date: 22/4/2010
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Joint Communiqué - 22 April 2010
Description:
Australian Health Ministers from the Commonwealth and all States and Territories met in Perth on 22 April 2010 and discussed a range of health issues including the groundbreaking national health reforms negotiated at COAG this week.
Date: 12/2/2010
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Communiqué - 12 February 2010
Description:
At the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference, all Ministers have committed to jointly plan through Health Workforce Australia for the quality clinical undergraduate training for all of our future health professionals.
Date: 13/11/2009
Title: National Breastfeeding Strategy endorsed and more progress on e-health and elective surgery
Description:
Health Ministers met in Adelaide on 13 November to discuss a range of issues including e-health, improving elective surgery performance, and strengthening accountability and performance reporting in the health system.
Date: 11/9/2009
Title: Ministerial Conference on Ageing
Description:
The Australian Government and state and territory ministers responsible for the care of older Australians and the Australian Local Government Association have met in Canberra at the third Ministerial Conference on Ageing.
Date: 4/9/2009
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met in Canberra to discuss a range of issues affecting the national health system. The meeting was chaired by ACT Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher.
Date: 13/7/2009
Title: First step taken towards national e-health system
Description:
In an out-of-session communique, the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference has announced that the first step has been taken towards a national e-health system. National consultations are set to begin on the legislative framework to underpin the governance, privacy and agreed uses for national healthcare identifier numbers essential to a secure national e-health system.
Date: 5/3/2009
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Joint Communiqué 5th March 2009
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met at the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference held in Melbourne on 5 March 2009.
Date: 5/12/2008
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Joint Communiqué 5th December 2008.
Description:
Date: 18/4/2008
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference
Description:
Health ministers met in Melbourne on 18 April, with discussions ranging across mental health, obesity, national security, tobacco, solariums, and open disclosure.
Date: 29/2/2008
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference Joint Communiqué
Description:
Australia's health ministers have agreed on the need for reciprocal public performance reporting and priorities for immediate reform.
Date: 31/1/2008
Title: Australian Health Ministers’ Conference
Description:
Reform of the national health system and developing a new Australian Health Care Agreement were at the top of the agenda when Australian Health Ministers met in Melbourne on 31 January.
Date: 7/12/2007
Title: Australian Health Ministers' Conference - Joint Communique
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met for the first time since the federal election at the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference held in Hobart on 7 December 2007.
Date: 27/7/2006
Title: Australian Health Ministers' Conference - Main Communique
Description:
Health Ministers met in Brisbane to discuss a range of priority health issues including Remote Area Renal Services, National Health Call Centres, Pandemic Influenza, Childhood Obesity, Quality and Safety, and a range of Health Workforce issues.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: Health Ministers Agree to National Eye Health Framework
Description:
Australian Government, State and Territory Health Ministers today released Australia’s first National Framework for Action to Promote Eye Health and Reduce Avoidable Blindness and Vision Loss.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: Health ministers make childhood obesity a major theme for next Australian Health Ministers' Conference
Description:
Health Ministers have asked the National Obesity Taskforce to come back to the next Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC) with a progress report on its implementation of its Report, approved by Ministers in early 2005.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: Annual Report 2004-05 From hospital to home: improving care outcomes for older people under the National Action Plan.
Description:
Australian Health Ministers noted the benefits of a national approach for improving care for older people as evidenced in the Annual Report 2004-05 From hospital to home: Improving care outcomes for older people under the National Action Plan.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: Australian Health Ministers move forward on new commission on safety and quality.
Description:
Australian Health Ministers agreed for the new Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to commence operation from 1 January 2006. The Commission will succeed the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, which was established in January 2000 for a five-year term, ceasing operation on 31 December 2005.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: Pandemic influenza preparedness and planning
Description:
Australian Health Ministers provided updates on jurisdictional preparations for responding to an influenza pandemic should it occur.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: National chronic disease strategy
Description:
Australian Health Ministers have agreed to endorse a national strategic policy approach to improve chronic disease prevention and care in the Australian population.
Date: 18/11/2005
Title: Revised operating arrangements for the Australian Health Information Council
Description:
Australian Health Ministers have agreed to revised operating arrangements for the Australian Health Information Council (AHIC).
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: National Injury Prevention Plan 2004 Onwards
Description:
The Australian Health Ministers’ Conference in Alice Springs have agreed to a comprehensive set of actions to enhance national and local efforts targeting injury related mortality and morbidity in Australia.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: National Public Health Strategic Framework for Children 2005 - 2008
Description:
The Australian Health Ministers’ Conference in Alice Springs has endorsed the National Public Health Strategic Framework for Children 2005-2008.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: Implementation Plan for the National Mental Health Plan 2003-2008
Description:
Australian Health Ministers acknowledged mental health as a priority and recognised the significant challenges facing each jurisdiction in providing an adequate response to people with mental illness.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: Child Health and Wellbeing
Description:
Health Ministers and Community and Disability Services Ministers meeting in Alice Springs approved four specific initiatives proposed to improve child health and wellbeing.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: Be Active Australia: A Framework for Health Sector Action for Physical Activity 2005 - 2010
Description:
The Australian Health Ministers' Conference in Alice Springs today endorsed the Be Active Australia: A Framework for Health Sector Action for Physical Activity which recognises the contribution of physical inactivity to the growing epidemic of avoidable chronic diseases in Australia.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: Australian Health Ministers Agree on New Safety and Quality Measures
Description:
All Australian Health Ministers have agreed to establish new arrangements for national improvements in the safety and quality of health care.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: National Health Reform Agenda
Description:
Ministers endorsed specific actions for IM & ICT and Workforce as part of the National Health Reform Agenda for 2005 and 2006 at its meeting in Alice Springs today.
Date: 28/7/2005
Title: Remote Area Renal Services for Indigenous Australians
Description:
Kidney disease is a significant health issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote areas.
Date: 28/1/2005
Title: New National entity to drive E-Health
Description:
Australian Health Ministers, meeting today in Sydney, endorsed arrangements to establish a new national entity to drive forward critical e-health initiatives.
Date: 28/1/2005
Title: Transplant donors' wishes to prevail
Description:
Australian Governments have agreed to new arrangements to help ensure that people who register to donate their organs after death will have their wishes respected.
Date: 28/1/2005
Title: Australian Health Ministers noted consumer resources to improve physical activity levels in Australia’s children and youth
Description:
Australian Health Ministers have noted a package of consumer resources to assist parents, carers and health professionals to understand the importance of, and opportunities for, improving the physical activity levels of children and young people.
Date: 28/1/2005
Title: Australian Health Ministers endorse the progress of The Improving Indigenous health: Remote Area Renal Services Project
Description:
Health Ministers have agreed to progress of The Improving Indigenous health: Remote Area Renal Services Project.
Date: 28/1/2005
Title: Australian Health Ministers endorse development of a National Framework for Action on Dementia
Description:
In recognition of the growing significance of dementia as a health and social issue, Health Ministers have agreed to progress the development of a National Framework for Action on Dementia.
Date: 28/1/2005
Title: Australian Health Ministers welcome the progress of the Child Health and Wellbeing Reform Project
Description:
A discussion paper on Child Health and Wellbeing has been delivered at the Australian Health Ministers Conference in Sydney which will pave the way for measures to address this important issue.
Date: 12/11/2004
Title: Licit and Illicit Drug Issues
Description:
The Australian and State and Territory Ministers responsible for health, law enforcement and police met in Brisbane today for a meeting of the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS), the peak decision making body on licit and illicit drug issues.
Date: 12/11/2004
Title: Governments welcome reports on heroin shortage
Description:
Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers for law enforcement, police and health have welcomed a comprehensive report on the causes and consequences of the heroin shortage in Australia.
Date: 29/7/2004
Title: Australian Health Ministers endorse childhood obesity initiatives
Description:
Australian Health Ministers have endorsed a package of national initiatives to improve healthy eating and physical activity amongst children, young people and their families.
Date: 29/7/2004
Title: Health Ministers agree to continue reform agenda
Description:
Australian Health Ministers met with clinicians today at their meeting in Hobart to seek advice about the progress of the Health Reform Agenda and the future priorities for reform.
Date: 29/7/2004
Title: Health Ministers agree to National Health Workforce Action Plan
Description:
Australian Health Ministers today released Australia's first National Health Workforce Action Plan.
Date: 17/5/2004
Title: Health Ministers agree to new purchasing arrangements for diagnostic products
Description:
New arrangements for the purchasing of diagnostic products used to test blood donations in Australia have been agreed to by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference.
Date: 23/4/2004
Title: Health Ministers Agree to Reform Agenda
Description:
Health Ministers agreed to take immediate action to progress reform of the Australian health care system in the areas of after hours GP services; aged care; chronic disease and cancer services; medical workforce planning and renal disease services
Date: 23/4/2004
Title: National health workforce strategic rramework
Description:
Australian Health Ministers have released Australia's first national health workforce strategic framework.
Date: 23/4/2004
Title: Australian Health Ministers agree on nationally consistent approach to medical registration
Description:
Health Ministers agreed to take immediate action to progress reform of the Australian health care system in the areas of after hours GP services; aged care; chronic disease and cancer services; medical workforce planning and renal disease services
Date: 28/11/2003
Title: Joint Communique
Description:
Health Ministers agreed to take immediate action to progress reform of the Australian health care system in the areas of after hours GP services; aged care; chronic disease and cancer services; medical workforce planning and renal disease services.
Date: 28/11/2003
Title: Obesity a National epidemic
Description:
Australian Health Ministers acknowledged that the nation is facing an epidemic of obesity and agreed that joint national action must be taken to increase healthy eating and physical activity amongst children, young people and their families.
Date: 28/11/2003
Title: New Council a vital link to future health information management in Australia
Description:
The inaugual meeting of the Australian Health Information Council has been established to provide advice on long term directions and national strategic reform issues for information management and technology in health.
Date: 28/11/2003
Title: Australian Health Ministers Announce Radiotherapy Plans
Description:
The Australian, State and Territory Governments today announced continued and increased action to improve radiotherapy services for cancer patients.
Date: 28/11/2003
Title: National Nursing and Nursing Education Taskforce
Description:
Australian Health Ministers announed the establishment of a national nursing taskforce to drive major nursing eductaion and workforce reforms
Date: 23/4/2003
Title: National Information Management and Information and Communications Technology Reform
Description:
Health Ministers agreed to take immediate action to progress reform of the Australian health care system in the areas of after hours GP services; aged care; chronic disease and cancer services; medical workforce planning and renal disease services
Date: 27/9/2002
Title: Leading the way in health care reform
Description:
At a meeting of the Australian Health Minister's Conference, health experts presented their findings on how to improve health outcomes and redesign health systems to be more patient focussed.
Date: 19/7/2002
Title: Australian Health Ministers agree to leading role in health care safety and quality
Description:
Australia's Health Ministers have agreed to play a leading role in implementing recommendations of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) in its third report, Safety through Action.
Date: 19/7/2002
Title: Health Ministers review progress on medical indemnity reform
Description:
A meeting of Commonwealth, State and Territory Health Ministers held in Darwin today reconfirmed their commitment to implement reforms that will ensure medical indemnity arrangements in Australia are sustainable and affordable into the future.
Date: 1/8/2001
Title: Australian Health Ministers endorse report into health care safety
Description:
Australian Health Ministers today strongly endorsed the work of the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), following the release of its second annual report to Health Ministers Safety in Practice - Making Health Care Safer.
Date: 1/8/2001
Title: Joint communique
Description:
Australian Health Ministers, meeting in Adelaide today, made a series of agreements aimed at working closely together to improve the health system available to Australians.
Date: 1/8/2001
Title: New plan launched to promote the responsible use of alcohol in Australia
Description:
Australia is now among the global leaders in efforts to promote sensible drinking and reduce the harms associated with alcohol misuse.
Date: 1/8/2001
Title: Development of HealthConnect commended
Description:
Speaking at the Australian Health Ministers Conference in Adelaide, Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, said important steps had been taken toward establishing a world-class electronic system for collecting, storing and exchanging health records.
Date: 31/7/2001
Title: Access to Buprenorphine on the PBS
Description:
Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, today announced that from 1 August 2001 buprenorphine will be available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the treatment of opioid dependence, within a framework of medical, social and psychological treatment.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: Ministers collaborate to strengthen Primary Health and Community Care
Description:
Australian Health Ministers today agreed to a unified approach to strengthen primary health and community care at the local level - spanning general practice, community services and hospitals.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: $50 Million to improve safety and quality in health care
Description:
Australian Health Ministers have signalled their ongoing commitment to a national collaborative approach to improving the safety and quality of hospitals and health care.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: Ministers agree: Health & medical research - A top priority
Description:
Australia's work in priority driven health and medical research was high on the agenda at today's Australian Health Ministers' Conference, resulting in a $5 million commitment to boost efforts in the area.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: GM food labelling decided - Tambling
Description:
The decision on labelling of genetically modified foods will give some certainty to consumers and industry about food labelling.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: Electronic medication records and boon for consumer safety - Health Ministers
Description:
Australian Health Ministers today considered and agreed to lend their support to a proposal to develop a system of electronic medication records.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: National Framework agreed to prevent the exploitation of human cloning
Description:
Australian Health Ministers today agreed to the development of a national framework to prevent the exploitation of human cloning.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: Australian Health Ministers unit to improve rural health
Description:
Health Ministers today threw their support behind the Federal Government's Regional Health Strategy Budget investment committing to working together to break down the barriers facing rural health.
Date: 28/7/2000
Title: Health Ministers give green light to National Health Information Network
Description:
The report of the National Electronic Health Records Taskforce was presented to the Australian Health Ministers' Conference in Wellington, outlining options for a way forward to establish a national health information network.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: Depression - The ailment of the 21st Century
Description:
A major new report has found young people, single or divorced Australians and those living alone are most at risk from suffering depression.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: Ministers push for more coordinated care trials
Description:
Australian Health Ministers meeting in Canberra today considered early findings from the evaluation of the coordinated care trials currently underway and agreed to taking the trials further.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: 400,000 Australians have diabetes but don't know it - Ministers agree to act
Description:
An estimated 400,000 Australians have the most common form of diabetes but don't know it.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: One in four Aussie kids has asthma - Ministers agree on National Health Priority
Description:
Asthma is to become Australia's sixth National Health Priority Area - in recognition of the unacceptably high rates of the disease which now affects one in four Australian primary school children.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: Health Ministers agree to new blood screening test
Description:
All Australian Health Ministers agreed that the Australian Red Cross Blood Service needed to implement as quickly as possible a newly developed test that more accurately screens blood donations for HIV and hepatitis C.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: New National Council will oversee safety and quality in Australia's health care system
Description:
Health Ministers meeting in Canberra have agreed to establish a new Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, to improve Australia's health care system.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: Ministers unite to get more doctors into the bush
Description:
Australian Health Ministers today turned their attention to our unacceptable rural doctor shortage and agreed to a streamlined recruiting approach for overseas trained GPs.
Date: 4/8/1999
Title: Australia's leading killer - Health Ministers unite against cardiovascular disease
Description:
Australia's Health Ministers today united to combat the nation's leading fatal health problem - cardiovascular disease.
