The Hon Mark Butler MP has been reappointed as the Minister for Health and Ageing following the recent federal election. His new ministerial health team comprises Sam Rae, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors; Rebecca White, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and Assistant Minister for Women; and Emma McBride, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health.
Sky Cappuccio, Chief Executive Officer of Optometry Australia, welcomed the reappointment and the opportunity to continue working with the Minister and his department on improving access to eye care.
We are committed to partnering with government to strengthen our health system and ensure every Australian can access timely, affordable and high-quality eye care
Hon Mark Butler MP.
“We congratulate the Hon. Mark Butler MP on his reappointment as Minister for Health and Aged Care. We look forward to continuing to work constructively with Minister Butler and his office and Department to progress opportunities to improve access to primary eye care.
“We are committed to partnering with government to strengthen our health system and ensure every Australian can access timely, affordable and high-quality eye care.”
Dr Danielle McMullen, President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), also welcomed Minister Butler’s reappointment, and said it was now “time to get down to real health reforms”..
“We have a very constructive relationship with Minister Butler and we will continue working with him on meaningful reform in general practice, public hospitals, private health and for innovative polices to help all Australians, no matter where they live, to access good healthcare,” Dr McMullen said.
She urged the Minister to expedite a new National Health Reform Agreement to lift Australia’s hospitals out of the logjam crisis — with ambulance ramping continuing, emergency departments at capacity and long waits for essential surgery.
“While there were some commitments to hospital funding during the election campaign with different states, and short-term funding before the election, this government will need to urgently address the crisis in hospitals by expediting a new National Health Reform Agreement.”
She said the AMA is “keen to expand access to nursing and allied health services within general practice and will continue to advocate for more funding to support the Workforce Incentive Program as part of efforts to improve access to high quality and well-coordinated care for patients”.
