Incoming Health Minister Sussan Ley has vowed to put more focus on the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians, while also listening to crossbench senators to ensure the country gets a “sustainable health policy”.
Ms Ley will take over the federal health portfolio from Minister Peter Dutton on Tuesday after Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s significant cabinet reshuffle on the weekend.
Ms Ley will assume responsibility for steering the government’s reworked GP co-payment through the hostile Senate.
Her appointment was welcomed by the president of the Australian Medical Association, Professor Brian Owler, who recently slammed the government for amending its co-payment policy without consultation with the profession.
Ms Ley told Fairfax Media on Monday that her working style with crossbench senators would be conciliatory and approachable, and that this would apply to negotiations over the controversial GP co-payment.
“I’m a person who spends a lot of time listening. My style won’t change when it comes to this portfolio,” Ms Ley said.
But she also said she would like to use her new position as Health Minister to give greater attention to the health gap between rural and city Australia, as well as indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
Her federal seat of Farrer in western New South Wales has some of the worst life expectancy rates in the world.
It includes the town of Wilcannia, which has a mostly indigenous population where the life expectancy rate for men is just 37 years, and for women just over 42.
“I’ve been a regional MP for 13 years and I’ve seen that there is a gap between rural and city health, a gap that needs to be closed,” Ms Ley said.
“And we all know the size of the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians … I’m determined that as minister we will give attention to that gap.
“I travel to Wilcannia regularly and one of the most common experiences for children is going to funerals. It’s simply awful.”
“To have had that experience as a local member … to be able to reflect on this is something I shall value as I move into the portfolio.
Latest figures show the average person in remote western NSW can expect a shorter lifespan than someone in North Korea or Iraq.
Jeremy Buckingham, NSW Greens spokesman for Western NSW, says Ms Ley ought to use her portfolio to confront the situation.
Mr Buckingham said access to clean water was a pressing health issue for local people.
“It’s fundamental to the cultural and physical health of outback communities that they have access to clean water, and the first order of business of Sussan Ley as Health Minister is to rectify [this] disgraceful situation in the heart of her electorate,” Mr Buckhingham said.
“Just because people live in regional and remote areas, or are Aboriginal, should not mean that they die younger.”
William Bates, director of Maari Ma Aboriginal Health and an active member of the Wilcannia community, told Fairfax Media he welcomed Ms Ley’s appointment and looked forward to working with her.
“We run health services as best we can … but any further help we can receive from the federal government would be well appreciated,” Mr Bates said.