Former ministers' media centre

Today is National Close the Gap Day, a day to reflect on the gap in health and wellbeing outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.

Australians with lung conditions will be able to access the world’s first and only dedicated lung scanner, which was developed and built in Australia, at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney.

Joint media release with the Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, and the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Dan Tehan, on the return of international cruise ships to Australia.

Australians with blood cancer will receive improved treatment and care through new and continued funding from the Australian Government, working in close partnership with the Leukaemia Foundation.

The Morrison Government is providing more than $35.9 million to ensure communities affected by the East Coast floods can continue to access vital health services and additional mental health support.

The Morrison Government has launched a ten-year plan to increase the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

The Australian Government is investing a further $1.2 billion to prepare and protect senior Australians against COVID-19 and influenza this winter.

Read the transcript of Minister Hunt at the Canberra Press Conference, on 211 March 2022, on Kimberley Kitching, Japanese encephalitis, extensions to vaccination/booster plan, winter preparedness plan for COVID and flu.

The Australian Government will invest $69 million to control the spread of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).

The Australian Government is investing $2.1 billion to protect Australians against COVID-19 and influenza this winter.

More than $127.8 million will be invested into mental health and suicide prevention support and services in South Australia over the next five years, following the signing of a landmark bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and South Australian governments.

The statement below was agreed to by ministers of sport or their equivalent after a joint meeting of nations, listed below.

More than $383 million will be invested into mental health and suicide prevention support and services in New South Wales over the next five years, following the signing of a new bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth and NSW governments.

Sporting events across rural and regional Australia are set to benefit from the Australian Government’s Regional Sport Events Fund.

Essential medical care is more affordable than ever before with the number of Australians receiving essential medical care with no out of pocket cost continuing to rise.

The Australian Government continues to invest in Indigenous-led health research to drive better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with $30.5 million secured for the National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research also known as Lowitja Institute.

Read the transcript of Minister Gillespie's interview with Chris Kenny, of Sky News, on 3 March 2022, on the flood crisis.

To mark World Obesity Day, the Australian Government is launching Australia’s first National Obesity Strategy, which will help address overweight and obesity across the nation.

Students studying medicine in Orange are a step closer to taking up jobs in the bush and helping address the shortage of health professionals in regional areas, with the number of students now training at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Rural Medicine doubling.

Federal Sports Minister Richard Colbeck and Australian Sports Commission Chair Josephine Sukkar have encouraged Australians to throw their support behind our Paralympic squad.

Read Minister Gillespie's speech for the Rural and Regional Hearing Healthcare Workforce Summit

The Federal Coalition Government has invested more than $32,000 through the Deafness Forum of Australia to promote World Hearing Day today, to raises awareness about preventing hearing loss and promoting healthy ear care across Australia.

Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck has congratulated all 14 winners of the 2021 Sport Australia Media Awards.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended the use of the Novavax vaccine as a booster in Australians aged 18 and over where an mRNA vaccine is not suitable

Research into issues affecting older Australians has taken another step forward with the new national academic centre at Frankston Hospital – which will house the National Centre for Healthy Ageing – opening its doors today.