First Minister for Preventative Health redefines national standard

Australia’s investment in preventive health remains critically low, with less than 2% of total health investment allocated to prevention. In a national first, the Western Australian government has established a Minister of Preventative Health – setting a powerful precedent that challenges the status quo.

As part of a cabinet reshuffle, the re-elected Cook Government has named Meredith Hammat, Member for Girrawheen, as the new Minister for Health. However, health responsibilities will now be split across three ministers and four portfolios.

WA Premier Roger Cook said the changes were designed “to reduce demand in hospitals over the long term.”

Sabine Winton, Member for Wanneroo, will take on the newly created Preventative Health portfolio, while John Carey, Member for Perth, will serve as Minister for Health Infrastructure.

Ainslie Sartori, President of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) WA Branch, said “This is an exciting development, and the association and our fellow public health agencies will work hard to ensure the new Ministerial portfolio makes a real difference to the health of people in WA.

“We’ll continue to press for regular public reporting of progress and an increased investment in prevention, to ensure our WA health system is sustainable and cost-effective.”

WA’s commitment to prevention has wavered in recent years. Following the 2019 Sustainable Health Review, the state government set a goal of allocating 5% of health investment to preventive health. That target was briefly reached during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since fallen to an estimated 3%.

PHAA CEO Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin believes WA has the potential to lead by example.

“To achieve that, the new government will need to promote the uptake of healthy eating, make it easier for people to do physical activity, encourage participation in proven vaccination and screening programs, and push down rates of drinking, smoking, and vaping. And much more.

“This new Cabinet role sends a signal to other jurisdictions that they too can prioritise preventive health at the highest level,” Professor Slevin stated.

At the national level, funding for prevention remains inconsistent. An analysis of the federal government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) found that under the Preventive and Public Health Research initiative, less than 40 cents of every $1 dollar have actually been allocated to public health and prevention research.

The PHAA has proposed the creation of an investment prioritisation mechanism similar to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) to advise government on preventive health priorities.

“We urge whoever forms the next Australian Government to create a national Minister for Preventive Health so that person can lead the push for investing 5% of total health expenditure on preventive health measures,” Professor Slevin emphasised.

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