Minister Butler's media

As students around the country return to school for the new year, promising new data shows vape use among young Australians has significantly reduced thanks to Australia’s world leading vaping laws.

The Australian Government believes in a strong health system for all Australians.

Read the transcript from Minister Butler's joint press conference with the South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton MP, and the South Australian Minister for Education, Blair Boyer MP, which covered vaping, nicotine pouches and tobacco.

Read the transcript from Minister Butler's press conference which covered health care for trans and gender diverse children and adolescents, and botox.

A record number of nurses are joining the Australian health workforce from overseas, with 16,622 internationally qualified nurses registering to practise here in the past financial year – three times more than the 5,610 nurses that joined in the final year before COVID (2018/19).

From 3 February 2025, Australian mums and their newborn babies will have free access to the best and most comprehensive protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Read the transcript from Minister Butler's interview on Weekend Today which covered the free RSV vaccine available from 3 February and more.

Read the transcript from Minister Butler's press conference which covered the Free RSV vaccine for expectant mothers; private health insurance and NSW psychiatrists.

Read the transcript of Minister Butler's interview with Kylie Morris about bulk billing rates, cost-of-living relief, anti-Semitic attacks and the Attorney General's trip to Israel.

Read the transcript of Minister Butler's interview with Nikolai Beilharz about bulk billing rates and the record number of GPs choosing general practice.

Read the transcript of Minister Butler's doorstop interview in Canberra about Medicare, bulk billing, vaping, public hospitals and NSW psychiatrists.

The Albanese Government is making it easier for cancer patients to find the support they need with $2.3 million, to the McGrath Foundation, over the next two years, to expand their “Find my Nurse” online tool to cover more cancer nurses.

Read the transcript from Minister Butler's press conference which covered funding for McGrath Foundation ‘Find My Nurse’ online tool; private health insurance; human metapneumovirus; Australian CDC; Welcome To Country ceremonies; Foreign Interference and Transparency Scheme.

Listing of breast cancer drug Lynparza on the PBS, cheaper medicines, more bulk billing and Urgent Care Clinics.

On 1 January, for the first time in more than 25 years, the maximum amount people pay for PBS medicines didn't rise with inflation for all Australians, as consumers saved $1.1 billion from cheaper medicines.

Australians with prostate and breast cancer now have affordable access to affordable new and expanded medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The Australian Government is investing $18.5 million to help eight Australian startup companies to commercialise their research and help turn their discoveries into new medicines and treatment tools for cancer, pregnancy complications, eye damage, and other conditions.

Older Australians and anyone eligible for a booster can benefit from getting the latest COVID-19 vaccine before an expected festive season wave.

Read the transcript of Minister Butler's interview with Graeme Goodings on COVID booster shots; private health insurance; cost of living measures.

The Australian Government and South Australian Government are delivering $10 million for a new Statewide Eating Disorder Service (SEDS) centre at the Repat Health Precinct to improve access to eating disorder treatments for people in South Australia.

Read the transcript from Minister Butler's press conference with the South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton, and the member for Boothby, Louise Miller-Frost MP, which covered the new eating disorder facility in South Australia and more.

The Australian Government is ensuring medicines stay cheaper and on pharmacy shelves across Australia, through a new $4.2 billion agreement with the National Pharmaceutical Services Association over five years.

Significant crackdown on the illegal vape market.

Christmas has come early for Men’s Sheds across the country with the Australian Government supporting 129 sheds with a share in more than $500,000 to continue supporting the health and wellbeing of their communities.

Read the transcript of Minister Butler's interview on Alice Springs and 3 new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics opened in the Northern Territory.