Minister for Health and Aged Care
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia
Incumbent
Mark Butler
since 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)
Department of Health and Aged Care
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerGovernor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Inaugural holderWalter Massy-Greene (as Minister for Health)
Formation10 March 1921 (1921-03-10)
Websitewww.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp

The Minister for Health and Aged Care is the position in the Australian cabinet responsible for national health and wellbeing and medical research. The incumbent Minister is Labor MP Mark Butler.

In the Government of Australia, the minister is responsible for national health and medical research policy, providing direction and oversight of the Department of Health and Aged Care.

History

Under Section 55(ix) of the Australian Constitution, the Commonwealth Parliament had the power to "make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to Quarantine." This was the only area of public health in which the Commonwealth had authority at the time of Federation. The federal parliament did not use this power until the proclamation of the Quarantine Act 1908,[1] on 30 March 1908. The control of the administration of quarantine was under the administration of the Minister for Trade and Customs from 1908 until 1921. This Minister's responsibilities in health matters increased as the Australian Government took a greater role in the provision of public health services during the early 20th century, in particular after the First World War.

A separate Department of Health was established on 10 March 1921, and the position of Minister for Health was then formally created in the fifth Hughes Ministry. The role of the Department of Health has continued to expand and further federal responsibility for health was authorised by the passage, at referendum, of a constitutional amendment in 1946. From 1987 until the establishment of the current department in 2013, the department controlled by the minister had various different names – Department of Community Services and Health (1987–1991), Department of Health, Housing and Community Services (1991–1993), Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services (1993), Department of Human Services and Health (1993–1996), Department of Health and Family Services (1996–1998), Department of Health and Aged Care (1998–2001), and Department of Health and Ageing (2001–2013).

Section 51 (xxiiiA) of the Constitution now states the Commonwealth (federal) Parliament has the power to

make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth [of Australia] with respect to the provision of maternity allowances, widows' pensions, child endowment, unemployment, pharmaceutical, sickness and hospital benefits, medical and dental services (but not so as to authorise any form of civil conscription), benefits to students and family allowances.

As a result of this amendment the federal government now has a key role in financing and providing medical services through entities such as Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

From 1972 to 1975 under Doug Everingham, the minister was named the "Minister for Helth [sic]" in some informal contexts due to Everingham's support of Spelling Reform.[2][3][4]

List of ministers

Health

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Health, or any of its precedent titles:[5]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Walter Massy-Greene Nationalist Hughes Minister for Health 10 March 1921 5 February 1923 1 year, 332 days
2 Austin Chapman Bruce 9 February 1923 26 May 1924 1 year, 107 days
3 Littleton Groom 26 May 1924 13 June 1924 18 days
4 Herbert Pratten 13 June 1924 16 January 1925 217 days
5 Sir Neville Howse 16 January 1925 2 April 1927 2 years, 76 days
6 Stanley Bruce 2 April 1927 24 February 1928 328 days
(5) Sir Neville Howse 24 February 1928 22 October 1929 1 year, 240 days
7 Frank Anstey Labor Scullin 22 October 1929 3 March 1931 1 year, 132 days
8 John McNeill 3 March 1931 6 January 1932 309 days
9 Charles Marr United Australia Lyons 6 January 1932 12 October 1934 2 years, 279 days
10 Billy Hughes 12 October 1934 6 November 1935 1 year, 25 days
11 Joseph Lyons 6 November 1935 26 February 1936 112 days
(10) Billy Hughes 26 February 1936 29 November 1937 1 year, 276 days
12 Sir Earle Page Country 29 November 1937 7 November 1938 343 days
13 Harry Foll United Australia 7 November 1938 7 April 1939 170 days
Page 7 April 1939 26 April 1939
14 Sir Frederick Stewart Menzies 26 April 1939 14 March 1940 323 days
15 Harold Thorby Country 14 March 1940 28 October 1940 228 days
(14) Sir Frederick Stewart United Australia 28 October 1940 29 August 1941 344 days
Fadden 29 August 1941 7 October 1941
16 Jack Holloway Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 21 September 1943 1 year, 349 days
17 James Fraser 21 September 1943 6 July 1945 1 year, 288 days
Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945 7 days
Chifley 13 July 1945 18 June 1946 340 days
18 Nick McKenna 18 June 1946 19 December 1949 3 years, 184 days
(12) Sir Earle Page Country Menzies 19 December 1949 11 January 1956 6 years, 23 days
19 Donald Cameron Liberal 11 January 1956 22 December 1961 5 years, 345 days
20 Harrie Wade Country 22 December 1961 18 November 1964 2 years, 332 days
21 Reginald Swartz Liberal 21 November 1964 26 January 1966 1 year, 66 days
22 Jim Forbes Holt 26 January 1966 19 December 1967 5 years, 55 days
McEwen 19 December 1967 10 January 1968
Gorton 10 January 1968 10 March 1971
McMahon 10 March 1971 22 March 1971
23 Ivor Greenwood 22 March 1971 2 August 1971 133 days
24 Sir Ken Anderson 2 August 1971 5 December 1972 1 year, 125 days
25 Lance Barnard1 Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 19 December 1972 14 days
26 Doug Everingham Minister for Health2 19 December 1972 11 November 1975 2 years, 327 days
27 Don Chipp Liberal Fraser Minister for Health 11 November 1975 22 December 1975 41 days
28 Ralph Hunt National Country 22 December 1975 8 December 1979 3 years, 351 days
29 Michael MacKellar Liberal 8 December 1979 20 April 1982 2 years, 133 days
30 Peter Baume 20 April 1982 7 May 1982 17 days
31 Jim Carlton 7 May 1982 11 March 1983 308 days
32 Neal Blewett Labor Hawke 11 March 1983 24 July 1987 7 years, 24 days
Minister for Community Services and Health 24 July 1987 4 April 1990
33 Brian Howe 4 April 1990 7 June 1991 2 years, 354 days
Keating Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services 7 June 1991 24 March 1993
34 Graham Richardson Minister for Health 24 March 1993 25 March 1994 1 year, 1 day
35 Carmen Lawrence Minister for Human Services and Health 25 March 1994 11 March 1996 1 year, 352 days
36 Michael Wooldridge Liberal Howard Minister for Health and Family Services 11 March 1996 21 October 1998 5 years, 260 days
Minister for Health and Aged Care 21 October 1998 26 November 2001
37 Kay Patterson Minister for Health and Ageing 26 November 2001 7 October 2003 1 year, 315 days
38 Tony Abbott 7 October 2003 3 December 2007 4 years, 57 days
39 Nicola Roxon Labor Rudd 3 December 2007 24 June 2010 4 years, 8 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 11 December 2011
40 Tanya Plibersek Minister for Health 11 December 2011 1 July 2013 1 year, 281 days
Rudd Minister for Health and Medical Research 1 July 2013 18 September 2013
41 Peter Dutton Liberal Abbott Minister for Health 18 September 2013 23 December 2014 1 year, 96 days
42 Sussan Ley 23 December 2014 15 September 2015 2 years, 21 days
Turnbull 15 September 2015 19 July 2016
Minister for Health and Ageing 19 July 2016 13 January 2017
(acting) Arthur Sinodinos[6] 13 January 2017 24 January 2017 11 days
43 Greg Hunt3 Minister for Health 24 January 2017 24 August 2018 5 years, 119 days
Morrison 24 August 2018 22 December 2020
Minister for Health and Aged Care 22 December 2020 23 May 2022
Scott Morrison3 [7] Minister for Health 14 March 2020 2 years, 70 days
(acting) Katy Gallagher4 [8] Labor Albanese Minister for Health and Aged Care 23 May 2022 1 June 2022 9 days
44 Mark Butler 1 June 2022 Incumbent 1 year, 224 days

Notes

1 Barnard was part of a two-man ministry that comprised just Gough Whitlam and Barnard for fourteen days until the full ministry was announced.
2 Doug Everingham was a supporter of Spelling Reform and he preferred to spell it "Helth", but this was not the formal spelling of the portfolio's name (see above).
3 Morrison was appointed as Minister for Health by the Governor-General on Morrison's advice in March 2020, with both Morrison and Hunt holding the position of Minister for Health until May 2022. However, the appointment of Morrison was not made public until August 2022.
4 Senator Gallagher is part of an interim Albanese ministry that consisted of Anthony Albanese, Richard Marles, Penny Wong, Jim Chalmers and herself until the full ministry was sworn in on 1 June 2022.

Aged care

The following individuals have been appointed as the Minister for Aged Care, or any of its precedent titles:[5] The position, since January 2017, is a separate outer ministry role that supplements the cabinet role of the Minister for Heath and Aged Care.[9]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
For earlier appointments, see the List of Australian ministers for aged care
1 Christopher Pyne   Liberal Howard Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing 30 January 2007 21 March 2007 50 days
2 Ken Wyatt   Liberal Turnbull Assistant Minister for Health 30 September 2015 18 February 2016 3 years, 241 days
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care 18 February 2016 18 January 2017
Minister for Aged Care 24 January 2017 28 August 2018
Morrison Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care 28 August 2018 29 May 2019
3 Richard Colbeck Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians 29 May 2019 22 December 2020 2 years, 359 days
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services 22 December 2020 23 May 2022
4 Anika Wells   Labor Albanese Minister for Aged Care 1 June 2022 Incumbent 589 days

List of assistant ministers

Health and aged care

The following individual has been appointed as Assistant Ministers of Health and Aged Care, or any of its precedent titles:[5]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 David Gillespie Nationals Turnbull Assistant Minister for Rural Health 19 July 2016 24 January 2017 1 year, 154 days
Assistant Minister for Health 24 January 2017 20 December 2017
2 Ged Kearney   Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care 1 June 2022 Incumbent 589 days

Indigenous health

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, or any of its precedent titles:[5]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Warren Snowdon Labor Rudd Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery 9 June 2009 24 June 2010 4 years, 101 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 14 September 2010
Minister for Indigenous Health 14 September 2010 27 June 2013
Rudd 27 June 2013 18 September 2013
2 Ken Wyatt   Liberal Turnbull
Morrison		 Minister for Indigenous Health 24 January 2017 29 May 2019 2 years, 125 days
3 Malarndirri McCarthy   Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health 1 June 2022 Incumbent 589 days

Rural and regional health

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, or any of its precedent titles:[5]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Warren Snowdon Labor Rudd Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery 9 June 2009 24 June 2010 1 year, 97 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 14 September 2010
2 Fiona Nash   Nationals Turnbull Minister for Rural Health 21 September 2015 19 July 2016 302 days
3 Bridget McKenzie   Nationals Turnbull Minister for Rural Health 20 December 2017 28 August 2018 251 days
4 Mark Coulton   Nationals Morrison Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government 6 February 2020 2 July 2021 1 year, 146 days
5 David Gillespie Minister for Regional Health 2 July 2021 22 May 2022 324 days
6 Emma McBride   Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health 1 June 2022 Incumbent 589 days

Mental health and suicide prevention

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, or any of its precedent titles:[5]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Emma McBride Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 1 June 2022 Incumbent 589 days

References

  1. ↑ "Communicable Diseases Surveillance: Surveillance Systems". Department of Health and Ageing. Commonwealth of Australia. 12 February 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Sampson, Geoffrey (1990). Writing Systems. Stanford University Press. p. 197.
  3. ↑ Landry, Michelle (5 September 2017). "Everingham, Hon. Douglas Nixon 'Doug'" (PDF). Australian House of Representatives Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Case for SR1 and Nothing Else". Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Anderson, Stephanie (18 January 2017). "Greg Hunt announced as Sussan Ley's replacement as Health Minister". ABC News. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Anthony Albanese reveals former prime minister Scott Morrison secretly appointed himself to five ministries in power grab". ABC News. 16 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "ATAGI expands COVID-19 booster access to allow more people to get a fourth dose". ABC News. 25 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Ministerial Arrangements - House of Representatives Hansard". Parliament of Australia. 7 February 2017.
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