‘Government’s broken promises in the health portfolio are piling up,’ says Shadow Health Minister Ann Ruston

The Coalition has condemned the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to establish Genomics Australia within the Department of Health, calling it “a broken promise”.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston, criticised the move, claiming that the government has “internalised Genomics Australia with no plan on how it will deliver the outcomes originally promised.”

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler MP emphasised that one of Genomics Australia’s first priorities would be to improve access to personalised cancer care.

Genomics Australia will function as a body within the Department of Health, with a dedicated Commissioner who will provide expert advice to the government on health genomics. It is also set to collaborate with states and territories to implement an updated National Health Genomics Policy Framework, with a public consultation open for feedback until December 24th.

However, the timing has been questioned, with Senator Ruston accusing the government of backpedalling on its promises.

“This time last year, the Minister said there was work underway to progress towards the establishment of Genomics Australia, yet it appears that this was nothing more than progress towards a broken promise,” Senator Ruston said.

She further added, “This government is seriously all talk no action when it comes to ensuring Australian patients have access to potentially life-saving new health innovations.”

The government’s recent decision to impose a cap on the number of new medicines and treatments that can be assessed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has fuelled further criticism.

Senator Ruston pointed out that Labor’s promises to strengthen Medicare are quickly unravelling, as bulk billing drops by 11%, Australians are paying 45% more to see a doctor, and access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support has been cut for at least 170,000 people.

“This government’s broken promises in the health portfolio are piling up,” she concluded.

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