Encyclopedia > Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. // Australia is a constitutional monarchy, a federation and a parliamentary democracy. ...
History
Under Section 51(xi) 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 Commonwealth did not use this power until the proclamation of the Quarantine Act 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 Commonwealth Government took a greater role in the provision of public health services during the early twentieth century and in particular after the First World War. Parliament House Canberra: The main entrance and the flag The Parliament of Australia is the legislative branch of Australia. ... Public health is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. ... The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed a federation. ...
A separate Department of Health was established on 10 March 1921, and the position of Minister of Health was then formally created. The role of the Department of Health has continued to expand and further Commonwealth responsibility for health was authorised by the passage, at referendum, of a constitutional amendment in 1946.
Section 51 (xxiiiA) of the Constitution now states the Commonwealth Parliament has the power to
make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Commonwealth 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 Commonwealth Government now has a key role in financing and providing medical services through entities such as Medicare, Medibank and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Medicare is Australias publicly-funded, universal health scheme, providing affordable treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all citizens and permanent residents except for those on Norfolk Island. ... Medicare is Australias publicly-funded, universal health scheme, providing affordable treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all citizens and permanent residents (as well as visitors from countries which have reciprocal arrangements with Australia). ... The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a programme of the Australian Government that provides heavily subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. ...
Australia ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on October 27, 2004 and was the 34th party to the FCTC.
Australia ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on October 27, 2004 and as at this date, there are 34 parties to the WHO FCTC.
Reports that Assistant Minister for Health (Cancer) Frank Sartor is pushing for smoking bans in pubs, hotels and clubs to come into force in NSW by the end of 2006.
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