Minister Butler's media

The Albanese Labor Government’s 2025–26 Budget is a future-shaping Budget, including history-making investments to build Australia’s future.

Today, Professor Paul Kelly has announced his decision to retire from his position as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The Albanese Labor Government is continuing to improve our health system: strengthening Medicare, the heart of universal healthcare, easing cost-of-living pressures with cheaper medicines, and embedding new mental health services in Medicare.

The Albanese Labor Government has worked hard to improve the quality of life for older Australians. We have put nurses back into nursing homes, given residents more time with their carers, lifted wages in the sector and improved transparency and accountability.

The Albanese Government is pleased to announce Professor Steve Wesselingh will be the next Chief Executive Officer of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

The Albanese Government is making Medicare stronger for all Australians, delivering critical funding for the urgent needs of today, and reforms for the healthcare of tomorrow.

The 2023–24 Budget delivers on the Albanese Government’s commitment to restore dignity to aged care and ensure older Australians are treated with the respect they deserve with an overall spend in aged care of $36 billion in 2023–24.

Read the transcript of The Hugh Stretton Oration spoken by Minister Butler.

Today, Professor John Skerritt has announced his decision to retire from his position of Deputy Secretary Health Products Regulation Group, effective 18 April 2023.