Gillard questioned on indigenous health

Indigenous groups, doctors and the opposition have questioned Julia Gillard's
decision to do away with a dedicated indigenous health minister.
The prime minister reshuffled her frontbench on the weekend, axing the indigenous,
rural and regional health portfolio previously overseen by Warren Snowdon in the
process.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon will now cover this area.
Aboriginal social justice commissioner Mick Gooda says he's concerned Mr Snowdon's
role was abolished "without any clear indication as to how the focus on indigenous
health would be maintained".
"It is vital that this focus be maintained as we cannot allow Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health to be forgotten in the push to establish (Labor's) health and
hospitals network," Mr Gooda said in a statement.
He wants to meet with Ms Gillard "to discuss the way forward" and ensure indigenous
health remains a key priority.
Indigenous people die on average between 10 and 17 years younger than non-indigenous
Australians.
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia also wants to meet with the prime
minister "urgently".
"Rural health has been virtually ignored by the (health) department for many years,"
association president Nola Maxfield said.
"So to axe the key ministerial position charged with driving indigenous, rural and
regional health policy within that department after just one term is a serious error
of judgment."
Dr Maxfield called on key independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor to make the
reinstatement of the portfolio "a key requirement of their continued support" for
the minority Labor government.
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation - a non-indigenous advocacy group -
is also calling on Ms Gillard to review her decision.
"The abolition of a dedicated indigenous health minister sends a worrying signal
about the priority accorded to indigenous health by the new government," president
Janet Hunt said in a statement.
But not everyone is opposed to the abolition of the portfolio.
The peak Aboriginal health body argues dealing direct with Ms Roxon will lead to
better outcomes.
"The opportunity to deal directly again with a cabinet minister, Health Minister
Nicola Roxon, about the priorities in Aboriginal health should be a welcome result
of Prime Minister Gillard's reshuffle," Justin Mohamed, chair of the National
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, said on Monday.
Mr Mohamed argues direct contact should lead to a "productive partnership" with Ms
Roxon.
The coalition says scrapping the indigenous health portfolio proves the government
has no idea what it's doing.
But opposition indigenous affairs spokesman Nigel Scullion went even further on
Monday - he suggested Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin should be sacked.
"Across the country there are some very influential people and organisations saying
that Minister Macklin should be replaced because she has not done her job properly,"
Senator Scullion said.
"But the prime minister has ignored those criticisms ... she needs to take
Aboriginal issues more seriously."
The prime minister's office referred inquiries to the health minister.
Ms Roxon was not immediately available for comment.



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