Budget 2023: How Australia responded

The Albanese government delivered its first budget this week, sparking a flurry of reaction from Australia’s health sector. 

From peak health industry groups to patient advocates and public health organisations, everyone had something to say, and while not all of it was good, most of it was positive. 

Here’s a collection of the responses. 

‘Budget on track to improve access to primary care’: Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association 

Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences federal budget analysis 

National Health and Medical Research Council response to federal budget 

‘Millions of patients will lose unless Government guarantees no one is worse off under Budget cuts’: Pharmacy Guild of Australia 

This Budget shows that the new Government is listening to Aboriginal people: NACCHO 

AAMRI welcomes ongoing support for medical research in the federal budget 

‘A strong foundation for ongoing reform’: Palliative Care Australia responds to federal budget 

RACP welcomes Budget’s substantive investment in primary health care but urges inclusion of specialist care to address complex conditions 

‘Community pharmacies vital to strengthened primary healthcare’: Pharmaceutical Society of Australia  

‘Historic’: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine’s budget response 

‘Mental health reform still in progress’: Mental Health Australia’s federal budget response 

Life Without Barriers federal budget response 

Southern Cross Care Qld welcomes aged care spend, but more detail needed for rural and remote regions 

‘Federal Budget delivers immediate mental health relief with first steps towards long-term reform’: Black Dog Institute 

‘Patient benefits at the centre of healthcare reform’: Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association? 

‘Welcome first step’ towards Australian CDC but more long-term investment needed: PHAA? 

Federal Budget a ‘game changer’ for general practice: RACGP? 

‘Pathway for better access to healthcare across the community’: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation? 

‘Strides made on health with focus on general practice in Federal Budget’: AMA? 

‘Many welcome measures but JobSeeker still a poverty payment that must be fixed’: Australian Council of Social Service? 

‘Australia’s Medtech, Biotech and Pharma Sector to Benefit from New Industry Growth Program’: MTPConnect? 

‘Positive news for older Australians – particularly older women’: COTA Australia? 

‘A responsible Budget in uncertain times’: Dr Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher joint statement? 

‘Stronger foundations for a better future’: Dr Jim Chalmers?