Medical research to uncover better treatment for Indigenous Australians

The Turnbull Government will invest more than $6 million in a health science centre in Alice Springs which is focused on addressing health challenges faced by Indigenous Australians. The Central Australia Academic Health Science Centre will receive $6.1 million over three years from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).   This funding will support better treatment…

Language learning for preschoolers in Flinders

Around 550 children at 16 preschools in Flinders will be given the opportunity to learn a second language this year, thanks to the Turnbull Government’s Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) program.  Federal Member for Flinders, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP, said it was encouraging to see to see so many Flinders preschools taking part in…

New partnership to drive better healthcare research and development

The Turnbull Government has set up a new advisory board to work with the United States to promote technology and innovation in healthcare. The Australian Advisory on Technology and Healthcare Competitiveness will partner with America’s top technology leaders from the United States Council on Competitiveness. Australia has a unique opportunity to lift the level of…

Better support for patients with low survival cancers and diseases

The Turnbull Government is calling for applications from the country’s best and brightest researchers to help find new treatments for low survival cancers and diseases. Researchers will share in $10 million to improve the survival rates and outcomes for patients. Low survival rate cancers are estimated to cause nearly 40 per cent of total cancer…

Record hospital funding delivering more patient services

The Turnbull Government is delivering record hospital funding to the states and territories in each and every year which is providing more doctors, more nurses and importantly more services for patients. We reject claims made in the media today about historical funding levels. The figures quoted do not relate to current Federal Government funding but…

Record Medicare bulk billing rate a win for patients in Flinders

More patients in Flinders are seeing their doctor without paying a cent, with the bulk-billing rate increasing to a record 79 per cent in the first half of the 2017–18 financial year.  This is the highest local GP bulk-billing rate on record for the July to December period and it is more than 6% higher…

5AA interview with Leon Byner

E&OE… Topics: Highest bulk billing on record; diagnostic imaging; Bupa; South Australia’s record hospital funding LEON BYNER: Let’s talk to the Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt. Greg thanks for coming on today.  GREG HUNT: And good morning Leon. LEON BYNER: Every time I open up the lines on health matters, callers will ring me and…

Family Drug Online Support Service Launched

Families of people using ‘ice’ and other drugs will be able to access support anytime of the day and night through a new Family Drug Support Online service.  The service was launched this month by the Assistant Minister for Children and Families, Dr David Gillespie, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Federal Member…

Highest bulk-billing rate on record

New Medicare data shows a record amount of Australian patients are seeing their doctor without paying a cent, with the bulk-billing rate increasing to 85.8 per cent in the first half of the 2017–18 financial year.  This is the highest GP bulk-billing rate on record for the July to December period and it is nearly…

Campaign to target areas with low immunisation rates

The Turnbull Government will target parents across the country with a powerful message around the need to vaccinate their children, with a new campaign launching today. Areas of low vaccination rates in one, two and five year olds will be micro targeted in every state and territory under the second phase of the ‘Get the…