ACN welcomes the reappointments of Mark Butler to the Cabinet as Minister for Health and Ageing, and Disability and the NDIS; and Jason Clare as the Minister for Education.
ACN also extends its congratulations to Sam Rae as the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors; Rebecca White as the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and Assistant Minister for Women; Emma McBride as Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health; and Dan Repacholi as Special Envoy for Men's Health.
ACN acknowledges the outstanding first-term contributions to health and aged care by Anika Wells, Ged Kearney, and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, who have all moved on to new portfolios.
ACN CEO, Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN, said the continuity in the leadership of the health portfolio, with Mark Butler remaining as Health Minister, provides an important opportunity to accelerate the health reform agenda that began during the government's first term.
"The Australian College of Nursing congratulates Prime Minister Albanese and his team on their re-election, and we are particularly pleased to see Minister Butler returned to the health portfolio," said Adjunct Professor Zeitz.
"He demonstrated his commitment to meaningful health reform during the government's first term, and his reappointment signals the opportunity to build on this important work and drive the implementation of crucial reforms that will strengthen our healthcare system."
Adjunct Professor Zeitz said, with a strong electoral mandate, it is now time to fast-track implementation of key initiatives, particularly the recommendations from the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review (the Cormack Review).
"The time to restructure the health system for the future is now. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to truly reform Medicare and the health system to ensure access to affordable, quality health services for generations to come," she said.
"As part of the implementation of the Cormack Review recommendations, we want to see specific funding for innovative nurse-led models of care.
"We look forward to the release of the National Nursing Workforce Strategy, due this term, with comprehensive measures to address nursing workforce shortages.
"The Albanese Government has the blueprints for action including through the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, the impending National Nursing Workforce Strategy, and the Scope of Practice Review.
"With key Ministers returning to their portfolios, we look forward to seeing these plans translated into significant reform.
"ACN is ready to collaborate with the health and ageing portfolio Ministers, Assistant Ministers, and Special Envoy, old and new, and indeed all parliamentarians, to support nurse-led solutions to the challenges facing our health system.
"Nurses are the solution – in all health settings and in all locations across Australia."
