The Latest Breaking News from Mark Butler

Medicare, hospital funding reform on cabinet agenda

The Australian Medical Association has called for extra health funding, saying almost no public hospitals are delivering care in the recommended time-frame.

AAP · Jan 31, 2023

Australia-first trial to retain GPs in rural areas will see them employed directly by state government

Tasmania will be the first in the country to trial a new $13 million statewide rural GP training model in the latest attempt to help combat widespread doctors shortages and GP clinic closures.

ABC News · Jan 27, 2023

Cuts to subsidised psychology sessions causing clients to 'ration' care, health workers warn

Health professionals and emergency services groups warn patients skipping psychology sessions will end up in the emergency department, urging the health minister to restore funding.

ABC News · Jan 24, 2023

Tinkering with Medicare funding won’t fix the mental health system. We must overhaul our approach to care

By simply giving more cash to selected programs, we deflect attention away from smart, system-wide reforms that would help those who need it most

The Guardian - AU · Jan 9, 2023

'Broken' GP system likely to dominate next national cabinet meeting, as state and territory leaders call for reform

State and territory leaders are urging the federal government to fix Australia's "broken" GP system, saying they want to make healthcare the top priority of 2023's first meeting of national cabinet.

ABC News · Jan 5, 2023

Australian health minister suggests pre-flight China tests designed to make Beijing share more data on Covid outbreak

Mark Butler signals measure could be lifted if China provides ‘real-time uploading’ of genomic sequencing of cases

The Guardian - AU · Jan 5, 2023

First arrivals from China after new COVID-19 test rules land in Australia as Health Minister Mark Butler defends the move

On Thursday, the government's new COVID-19 testing requirements for travellers coming into Australia from China, Hong Kong and Macau began and family and friends in Melbourne and Sydney were keenly awaiting their arrival.

ABC News · Jan 5, 2023

Health minister defends contradicting chief medical officer's advice, as China restarts travel

Mark Butler says the government has to keep in line with international expectations as well as Australian health officials, after going against formal advice not to require pre-flight COVID tests on travellers from China.

ABC News · Jan 5, 2023

Chinese Australians' travel plans up in the air as COVID-19 surge grips China ahead of Lunar New Year

As COVID-19 cases in China surge and countries, including Australia, impose new travel rules, Chinese Australians are weighing up whether to visit relatives and loved ones.

ABC News · Jan 3, 2023

Expert warns 'discriminatory' COVID-19 testing policy will deter Chinese travellers

From midnight, Australia joins a growing number of countries imposing new COVID-19 travel restrictions on people arriving from China, but experts say it is neither fair nor necessary.

ABC News · Jan 3, 2023