Two of my great friends and two outstanding people have been elected as Leader and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
I have known both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg for many years and they possess all the qualities needed to lead our party and our nation into the future.
I’m honoured and humbled to continue my work as Minister for Health as part of the Morrison government.
Our job now is to advocate for, and deliver more and better-paid jobs, lower electricity prices and continue our record investment in new medicines, hospitals, medical research and mental health.
This week, our new ministerial team will get to work, determined to keep Australia’s economy strong, keep Australians safe and ensure that we are on your side in helping to deliver a fair go.
We have been able to make tremendous progress in health, listing new medicines including breakthrough cancer drugs such as Opdivo and a life-saving medicine for spinal muscular atrophy, Spinraza, on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. All while lifting mental health and medical research to being core pillars in our long-term national health plan.
I particularly look forward to working with Scott on our combined passions of mental health, medical research, further supporting our new hospital agreement and working with our GPs and specialists on strengthening Medicare. I welcome his commitment to addressing chronic illness.
This is a next-generation team, which includes an increased number of women on the front bench and a diverse range of skills and backgrounds from across Australia.
They represent the values we share as Australians, including the belief that if you have a go in this country, you’ll get a fair go.
As we move forward with this new leadership team, I want to thank Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop for their leadership and service to the nation.
Greg Hunt
