1997-1998
Ministerial responsibilities
The 1997-1998 Portfolio Budget Statements, informs Senators and Members of Parliament of the proposed allocation of resources to portfolios outcomes and their objectives and targets including the agencies within the Health and Family Services portfolio.
The Hon Dr Michael Wooldridge MP
Minister for Health and Family Services
As portfolio Minister, Dr Wooldridge has overall responsibility for the portfolio, including Cabinet matters, and has specific responsibility for:
- Medicare benefits, hospitals, private health insurance and medical workforce issues;
- public health, including issues concerning AIDS and other communicable diseases, immunisation, specific women's and men's health issues, environmental health issues and drug abuse reduction;
- health research;
- Aboriginal health issues; and
- strategic policy analysis and evaluation, corporate leadership and resource management services.
The Hon Mrs Judi Moylan MP
Minister for Family Services
Mrs Moylan has specific responsibility for:
- family and children's services, including child care, child protection, youth homelessness, emergency relief and the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program;
- the youth suicide initiative;
- coordinating Government policy on carers;
- aged and community care services, including financial support for nursing homes and hostels, the National Action Plan for Dementia, the Home and Community Care Program and support for carers; and
- Disability Programs, including the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service.
Senator the Hon Christopher Ellison
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services
Senator Ellison provides administrative assistance to Dr Wooldridge. Senator Ellison takes particular responsibility for the:
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
- Australian Government Health Service;
- Australian Hearing Services;
- Australia New Zealand Food Authority; and
- Therapeutic Goods Administration.
