Departmental logo
No images

THE HON TONY ABBOTT MP

Former Minister for Health and Ageing

The Hon Tony Abbott MHR - Media Items

Print page  Decrease text size  Increase text size

Listed below are media items for The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Former Minister for Health and Ageing

February 2006

24 February 2006

2006-07 Private Health Insurance Premiums

In 2004-05, private health funds paid $5.8 billion in hospital benefits to members, an increase of 8.1 per cent compared to the previous year, which is almost 90 per cent of total premiums paid by members. As a result of higher benefits paid to patients and rising health service costs, private health premiums will increase by an average of 5.68 per cent. For most funds this will start from 1 April this year.

23 February 2006

Boost for North-West Rural Clinical School

The University of Tasmania’s Rural Clinical School Teaching, Research and Administration Centre at Burnie was officially opened on 23 February 2006 by the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott.

22 February 2006

Progress on plan to combat petrol sniffing

The Australian Government has announced further progress on a $9.5 million plan to combat petrol sniffing in Central Australia.

21 February 2006

New PBS listed drug for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis

A new drug RaptivaŽ will become available from 1 April 2006 for the treatment of severe chronic plaque psoriasis for patients who have exhausted or had an inadequate response to other treatments.

20 February 2006

Announcement of bird flu research recipient grants

Speech by Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, at the announcement of bird flu research recipient grants, Sydney, 20 February 2006.

20 February 2006

Launch of Organ Donation Awareness Week

Speech by Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, at the launch of Organ Donation Awareness Week, Sydney, 20 February 2006.

20 February 2006

Australians with hepatitis C gain easier access to treatments

Australians with hepatitis C will no longer be required to have a liver biopsy to gain access to subsidised treatments. The Australian Government is hoping this will make it easier for more hepatitis C sufferers to undergo treatment.

20 February 2006

Bird flu research receives $6.5 million funding injection

Research projects aiming to prevent, detect or control avian influenza and other respiratory disease outbreaks will receive $6.5 million in urgent research funding from the Australian Government.

19 February 2006

Private health cover rises again – 43% covered

Almost 8.8 million Australians were covered by private health insurance in the December 2005 quarter.

19 February 2006

Flame of life ignites awareness of organ donation

The government has announced new measures to encourage more people to donate their organs.

17 February 2006

Plasma fractionation review committee appointed

A review of Australia’s plasma fractionation arrangements is underway to ensure the continued supply of high-quality blood plasma products in Australia.

17 February 2006

Australian pandemic vaccine trial shows encouraging results

CSL Ltd's preliminary results from its clinical trial of a pandemic influenza vaccine based on the H5N1 bird flu virus.

14 February 2006

New director for Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Dr Penelope Allbon is appointed Director of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

14 February 2006

Tamworth to become a medical training centre

A new Rural Clinical School for undergraduate doctors from the University of Newcastle will open in Tamworth on 1 July 2006, aiming to stem the shortage of doctors in rural and regional Australia.

10 February 2006

Better health for all Australians

The health action plan of more than $1.1 billion agreed today by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will result in improvements in services provided by public hospitals, community health clinics, GP surgeries, and the aged care sector.

10 February 2006

Roll out of OPAL fuel to help combat petrol sniffing

Non-sniffable OPAL fuel is now available to the Alice Springs community, as part of the Commonwealth Government’s plan to combat petrol sniffing.

10 February 2006

GP bulk-billing rates

More than three out of four visits to the GP are now bulk billed, with the national GP bulk-billing rate increasing to 75.1 per cent in the December quarter.

08 February 2006

RU486 and the TGA

Decision on RU486 safety is to be made based on expert advice. The Therapeutic Goods Administration is currently considering an application, the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, said today.

06 February 2006

Yet another Beattie smokescreen

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is currently running an inaccurate and misleading advertising campaign in an attempt to distract Queenslanders from his mismanagement of the Queensland health system.

03 February 2006

Launch of a $6 million national campaign to get kids active

Speech by the Hon Tony Abbott MHR at the launch of a $6 million national campaign to get kids active, Sydney, 3 February 2006.

03 February 2006

Concerns raised over obesity in Australia

Doorstop interview with the Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, in Sydney on 3 Feburary 2006.

03 February 2006

Kids to get active for an hour a day

The Commonwealth Government today launched a $6 million national campaign to encourage children to exercise for at least an hour a day.

01 February 2006

New PBS listings announced

The Australian Government has listed four new drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to treat cancer, cardio vascular disease and HIV.