The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Ministers

The Hon Mark Butler MP

Learn about Minister Butler and his responsibilities in the Health and Aged Care portfolio.

The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Health and Aged Care

Biography

Mark Butler has been the Labor Member for Port Adelaide and Hindmarsh in the Federal Parliament since 2007 and is the Minister for Health and Aged Care.

Mark served as Minister for Ageing and Australia’s first Minister for Mental Health in the Gillard Government. He has also held the ministries of Housing, Homelessness, Social Inclusion, Climate Change, Water and the Environment.

Read Minister Butler's biography

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Latest media

Read the latest media releases, speeches and transcripts.

See Minister Butler's media

  • Cheaper scripts for millions

    Media release
    For the first time in its 75-year history, the maximum cost of general scripts under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will fall. Joint media release with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

  • Improving access to rural and regional health

    Media release
    The Australian Government is improving access to healthcare across the country, with all states and the Northern Territory signing a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth to continue Medicare bulk billing services at approved hospitals and health services in rural and remote areas.

  • Improving access to rural and regional health

    Media release
    The Australian Government is improving access to healthcare across the country, with all states and the Northern Territory signing a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Commonwealth to continue Medicare bulk billing services at approved hospitals and health services in rural and remote areas.

  • Crackdown on 'cosmetic cowboys'

    Media release
    Over recent weeks we have seen a litany of appalling stories of poor practices in the cosmetic surgery industry with permanent damage done to untold numbers of Australians.

  • PBS listing for ovarian cancer and kidney disease

    Media release
    From 1 September 2022, Australians will have access to new and expanded medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), including treatments for ovarian cancer, leukaemia, chronic kidney disease and spinal muscular atrophy in children.

  • $31.5 million boost for COVID-19 research

    Media release
    The Australian Government will boost support for medical researchers to drive innovation and contribute to global efforts to understand COVID-19, including work to assess the impact of long COVID.

  • First report on Australia's pandemic preparedness

    Media release
    The first broad analysis of Australia’s pandemic preparedness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been released by the CSIRO. Joint media release with Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP.

  • Growing and supporting our health workforce

    Media release
    Representatives from across Australia’s health workforce including unions, employers and other stakeholders met today to discuss how best to grow and support this vital sector – already Australia’s largest source of employment.