Ministers' media centre

Read Minister Butler's speech at the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Annual Conference on Friday 29 July 2022. (Check against delivery)

The Australian Government is making it easier for Australians to see a doctor by strengthening Medicare, the critical foundation of our health system.

The Australian Government introduced legislation today to deliver our commitments to fix the crisis in aged care, and usher in a new funding model for residential aged care.

The 2022 Commonwealth Health Minister's Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research has been awarded to a leading researcher tackling healthcare-associated infection, Professor Brett Mitchell from Avondale University.

More than 3,000 Australians died by suicide in 2020, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) latest report: Suicide and Self-Harm Monitoring.

More than two in five Australians experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. In 2020–21 more than 3.4 million Australians sought help from a health care professional for their mental health.

The Australian Government today launched a new advertising campaign to encourage eligible Australians to access life-saving COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments.

The Albanese Government is delivering on one of its core election commitments to make it easier for thousands of Australians in outer suburbs and regions to see a GP.

Young people across the nation will soon benefit from additional access to mental health support at a number of headspace centres around Australia.

Read the transcript of Minister Butler's press conference on Omnicron, vaccines, third and fourth doses, provisional approval for Moderna for very young children, boosters, flu, aged care, masks, Pfizer and pressure on hospitals.

Read the transcript of the radio interview with Minister Butler and Liam Bartlett, 6PR on Vaccines, COVID-19 emergency payments, economy, COVID-19 isolation period, National Cabinet and staff shortages in health.

Medicare will cover a long consultation by a GP for the purpose of prescribing COVID-19 antivirals, with the change coming into effect from next week.

Read the transcript of the radio interview with Minister Butler and Patricia Karvelas, ABC Radio National on COVID emergency payments; National Cabinet and health advice.

Read the transcript of the TV interview with Minister Butler and Sarah Ferguson, ABC 7.30 on Mask mandates, antivirals, telehealth, emergency pandemic leave, aged care.

Read the transcript of the Doorstop, Adelaide with Minister Butler on Labour force figures; rapid antigen tests; pandemic leave; aged care.

Read the transcript of the radio interview with Minister Butler and Stacey Lee, ABC Adelaide Breakfast on Rapid Antigen Tests, masks and Voluntary Assisted Dying

Read the transcript of the radio interview with Minister Butler and Chris Smith, 2GB Breakfast on COVID-19 response, Rapid Antigen Tests, masks and working from home.

Read the transcript of the TV interview with Minister Butler and Natalie Barr, Sunrise on Fourth and winter doses; restrictions, masks and working from home.

The Australia Government today launched the Cancer Hub – a national one-stop digital hub that will change the way young Australians access cancer-related services.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has today released its report Diabetes: Australian Facts, revealing the significant impact of diabetes on people living in rural and regional Australia.

Victorian families will soon have access to a one-stop shop for mental health care and health and wellbeing support for the whole family – with providers selected for three Infant, Child and Family Health and Wellbeing Hubs.

Read the transcript of the Doorstop, Sydney with Minister Butler on Children’s Cancer Hub, free RATs, emergency payments, Halton vaccine review, ADF support, COVID winter peak, variant vaccines and advice from CHO and CMOs.

Read the transcript of the radio interview with Minister Butler and and Neil Mitchell, 3AW Mornings on Omicron third wave and response; antivirals; hospitalisations; masks and rapid antigen tests

Read the transcript of the Doorstop, Canberra with Minister Butler on COVID variants; booster shots; mandates and emergency payments.

Read the transcript of the TV interview with Minister Butler and Lachlan Kennedy, Channel 10 News First on Antivirals, access to antivirals by GP script, new variants and aged care.