Media Releases

Preventing nicotine uptake by young Australians with prescription based vaping

Health, Media Releases21 December 2020

The Government is responding to the independent regulatory decision of the TGA today with a range of measures to support the cessation of smoking, and to help prevent teenagers taking up pathways to smoking. As noted in the TGA decision (https://www.tga.gov.au/scheduling-decision-final/notice-final-decision-amend-current-poisons-standard-nicotine), from 1 October 2021, consumers importing nicotine will require a doctor’s prescription to…

Details

Lowest private health insurance premium change in two decades

Health, Media Releases21 December 2020

The Australian Government’s ongoing reforms to private health insurance have resulted in the lowest annual average premium change for consumers since 2001 – 2.74 per cent. The 2.74 per cent average industry change from 1 April 2021 – the lowest change in 20 years – is over 50 per cent lower than premium rises…

Details

Expanded PBS access to breakthrough medicine for lung cancer

Health, Media Releases20 December 2020

A significant lung cancer treatment option that costs approximately $88,000 a year will soon be available for as little as $6.60 per script, thanks to its expanded listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). From 1 January 2021, Australians living with non-small cell lung cancer who have not had prior therapy will benefit from…

Details

$172.5 million funding top up to support Australian medical research

Health, Media Releases17 December 2020

The Morrison Government is continuing its support for world leading medical research by contributing an additional $172.5 million to supplement the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) in 2021-22. The MRFF reached its $20 billion maturity in July 2020, however the historic low RBA cash rate has reduced the amount available through the MRFF to…

Details

Preparing Australians for the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out

Health, Media Releases17 December 2020

An important education campaign will be rolled out to inform Australians ahead of the COVID-19 vaccination program. The vaccination roll-out will be a complex task and it will be important that people understand the process with the first vaccinations on track for early next year. Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said the Mid-Year…

Details

Dec172020

Turning the sod on Frankston Hospital’s new Academic Centre

Health, Local Media, Media Releases17 December 2020

Frankston’s National Centre for Healthy Ageing moved one step closer with the turning of the Sod for Frankston Hospital’s new Academic Centre. The Morrison Government has invested $32 million into the National Centre for Healthy Ageing and the completed Academic Centre will house part of the National Centre. Federal Member for Flinders, the…

Details

$300 million for the improvement of health for all Australians

Health, Media Releases15 December 2020

The Morrison Government is investing $300 million in ground-breaking health and medical research projects across Australia aimed at delivering better treatments, diagnosis and care. Today’s announcement includes $260 million for 283 research projects through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants scheme. Associate Professor Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino will receive $1.1 million…

Details

Helping small businesses on the Mornington Peninsula reduce their power bills

Local Media, Media Releases14 December 2020

Small businesses across the Mornington Peninsula are getting support from the Morrison Government to cut energy costs, putting more money back in the pockets of local business owners as we recover from COVID-19. Through the Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program, three small businesses on the Peninsula have been awarded $20,000 each for energy saving projects.…

Details

$311 million for dementia, cancer and additional medical research

Health, Media Releases14 December 2020

Eleven grant opportunities from the Morrison Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), with a total value of almost $311 million, will launch today. The funding aims to generate improved health care and outcomes by supporting health and medical research and innovation projects in key areas such as dementia, aged care, and applied research led…

Details

Bulk billing rates at record high through COVID-19

Health, Media Releases13 December 2020

Almost nine out of ten visits to the GP across Australia over the year to September were provided at no cost to the patient. For GP services, the bulk-billing rate for the 12 months to September 2020 was 88.7 per cent. This was 2.6 percentage points higher than over the previous year. In total, Medicare…

Details