$11 million to reduce rates of heartbreaking stillbirths

The Morrison Government will provide $11 million to fast track a new national plan to reduce the number of stillbirths, ensuring families affected get the respectful bereavement care they need.   Tragically, there are six stillbirths each day in Australia. That means suffering and loss for more than 2,000 families every year.   Such loss…

Transcript – Doorstop – Canberra

E&OE…                       Topics: Biosecurity Act emergency declaration; Cruise ship restrictions; Immunity passports; Domestic cruising; COVID-19 vaccine rollout; COVID-19 restrictions for Christmas; National drinking guidelines.   GREG HUNT: Zero cases of community transmission, reported by the National Incident Centre shortly before joining you.   And zero cases in ICU, zero cases on ventilation. But these hard-won…

Extending the human biosecurity emergency period by three months

The human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 is set to be extended by an additional three months. The human biosecurity emergency declaration ensures the Government has the powers to take any necessary measures to prevent and control COVID-19, and protect the health of all Australians. These powers have been used on a…

Boost to nursing greatly strengthens our response to pandemic

The Australian Government’s early action to rapidly increase the number of Registered Nurses (RN) who have the necessary skills to treat people infected with COVID-19, has significantly strengthened our ability to respond to the pandemic. The Government provided $6.6 million for the delivery of two nurse training programs in response to COVID-19 – one to…

Congratulations to Australia’s newest nursing and midwifery graduates

Hospitals, clinics, health centres and communities across Australia will be among those to benefit from the graduation of 15,000 new nurses and midwives. The Federal Government congratulates the new health workers who completed their studies and placements in some of the most difficult circumstances faced in living memory. This year’s graduates have succeeded in the…

Transcript – Sunday Agenda interview with Tom Connell

E&OE… Topics: Vaccine roll out, Anti-vax, Hydroxychloroquine, airline travel, international travel, quarantine. TOM CONNELL: Joining me now, the Health Minister Greg Hunt, of course, so much to talk about within this portfolio and he joins me now from his electorate there. Thanks for your time, Greg Hunt. The Therapeutic Goods Administration head John Skerritt, we’re…

Strengthening Australia’s immunisation program

The Australian Government is continuing to improve Australia’s world leading vaccination program through the Australian Immunisation Register Amendment (Reporting) Bill 2020, which enters parliament today. This Bill supports and builds upon the longstanding action of the successive Governments to ensure that Australians have access to safe and effective vaccines and that we maintain world leading…

Pfizer vaccine emergency approval in the UK

We welcome the emergency approval given to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in the UK. This is particularly so given the over 1.6 million cases and tragic loss of over 59,000 lives in the UK. I have again spoken to the Australian CEO of Pfizer, they remain on track for vaccine delivery once it is approved…

South Australia switches on electronic prescriptions

South Australians will now have access to electronic prescriptions through the Morrison Government’s ongoing investment in digital health.   Since May, electronic prescriptions have been introduced across the country, with South Australia joining Victoria, the ACT and metropolitan Sydney.   So far, more than one million electronic prescriptions have been issued. This includes over 800,000…

Additional $132.2 million for Aged Care Covid response

The Morrison Government will invest a further $132.2 million in its response to the Aged Care Royal Commission’s recommendations on COVID-19. The Government accepted and is acting on all six recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety as previously announced in October 2020. The $132.2 million package includes $63.3 million for…