Medicines Australia welcomes Cabinet appointments - 12 December 2011
Medicines Australia congratulates outgoing Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and outgoing Innovation and Industry Minister Senator Kim Carr on their contributions to their respective portfolios over the past four years.
Medicines Australia chief executive Dr Brendan Shaw also welcomed the appointments of Tanya Plibersek as Minister for Health and Greg Combet as Minister for Industry and Innovation.
“Both Minster Roxon and Minister Carr have ensured constructive policy dialogue between the Government and the Australian medicines industry,” Dr Shaw said.
“Both have been willing to engage with the industry and work collaboratively to develop sound policy.
“At the same time, I congratulate Minister Plibersek and Minister Combet on their appointments and Medicines Australia looks forward to working constructively with them and continuing the important work in these two key portfolios.
“Minister Roxon has consolidated the 2007 reforms to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
“She was instrumental in securing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Government and Medicines Australia which has delivered savings to the Government and a degree of predictability for industry.
“Under her leadership, the PBS has been well managed and is now enjoying record low growth, which creates the capacity to bring new medicines onto the PBS.
“Minister Carr has been a passionate advocate for the Australian medicines industry. He has achieved the introduction of the R&D tax credit and has been central to the reforms to improve our international competitiveness in attracting clinical trials to Australia.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Minister Carr, in his new capacity as Minister for Manufacturing.
“We also look forward to working with Minister Plibersek, who has shown a strong interest in health issues throughout her parliamentary career.”
Dr Shaw also congratulated Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler on his elevation to the Cabinet.
-ENDS-
Contact Person:
Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au