AMA President, A/Prof Brian Owler, today welcomed the appointment of the Hon Sussan Ley as Minister for Health, saying the AMA looks forward to inclusive debate about major health reform, and robust discussions on the Government’s Medicare and co-payment proposals.
A/Prof Owler said Minister Ley has served across a range of portfolios over a decade, and will have significant policy influence as a member of Cabinet.
“Minister Ley’s wide range of life experiences before entering politics and her 13 years as an MP will serve her well as she enters the challenging Health portfolio,” A/Prof Owler said.
“She will bring a broad knowledge and understanding of rural health to the new role.
“It is important there is genuine engagement with the health sector to resolve the strong differences of opinion over the co-payment proposals and move on.
“The Australian people want to see a serious health debate about the major policy and structural issues that need to be fixed to set the health system up to meet future health needs.
“There must be high-level discussions about chronic disease management, public hospital funding, Commonwealth/State relations, prevention, and medical training, to name a few.”
A/Prof Owler said the AMA wishes outgoing Health Minister, Peter Dutton, every success in his new role as Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
21 December 2014
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