Minister for Health
Incumbent
Ryan Park
since 28 March 2023
Ministry of Health
StyleThe Honourable
NominatorPremier of New South Wales
AppointerGovernor of New South Wales
Inaugural holderFred Flowers (as the Minister for Public Health)
Formation22 April 1914 (Public Health)

The New South Wales Minister for Health is a minister in the New South Wales Government and has responsibilities which includes all hospitals, health services, and medical research in New South Wales, Australia.[1][2][3][4]

Together they administer the health portfolio through the Health cluster, including the Ministry of Health, its Office of Medical Research, and a range of other government agencies, including local health districts and the NSW Ambulance service.[5]

Ultimately, the ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

Office history

The role of a government advisor and administrator on medical policy in New South Wales began in 1914, with the appointment of Fred Flowers as the Minister for Public Health. However the medical portfolio had been administered in the government since 1848 when the first "Medical Adviser to the Government" was appointed, with his office reporting to the Colonial Secretary.[6] Following the amalgamation of the Board of Health and the Medical Advisor to the Government a "Department of Public Health" was established in April 1904, headed by the President of the Board of Health.[7] This department was abolished in 1913 and was replaced by the "Office of the Director-General of Public Health" which, like its predecessor, operated under the supervision of the Colonial Secretary. Upon Flowers' appointment as Minister for Public Health, a dedicated government minister supervised the portfolio while remaining the junior minister to the Colonial Secretary. The office was reconstituted as a fully independent "Department of Public Health" headed by the Minister (titled Minister for Health since 1930) in 1938.[8]

The department existed until its abolition in 1972 with the passing of the Health Commission Act 1972 which created the "Health Commission of New South Wales" headed by the minister.[9] In December 1982 the Health Commission was abolished by the Health Administration Act 1982 and replaced by the Department of Health. On 5 October 2011 the department was renamed the "Ministry of Health".[10]

List of ministers

Health

Title Minister [4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Public Health Fred Flowers   Labor Holman (1) 22 April 1914 27 April 1915 1 year, 5 days
George Black 27 April 1915 15 November 1916 1 year, 202 days
Jack FitzGerald   Nationalist Holman (2) 15 November 1916 18 July 1919 2 years, 245 days
David Storey 18 July 1919 29 January 1920 195 days
Minister for Public Health and Motherhood Greg McGirr   Labor Storey
Dooley (1) 		9 February 1920 20 December 1921 1 year, 314 days
Minister for Public Health Charles Oakes   Nationalist Fuller (1) 20 December 1921 a.m. 20 December 1921 p.m. 7 hours
Greg McGirr   Labor Dooley (2) 20 December 1921 13 April 1922 114 days
Charles Oakes   Nationalist Fuller (2) 12 April 1922 17 June 1925 3 years, 66 days
George Cann   Labor Lang (1) 17 June 1925 26 May 1927 1 year, 343 days
Robert Stuart-Robertson Lang (2) 26 May 1927 18 October 1927 145 days
Richard Arthur   Nationalist Bavin 18 October 1927 3 November 1930 3 years, 16 days
Minister for Health James McGirr   Labor Lang (3) 4 November 1930 17 June 1931 225 days
Bill Ely 17 June 1931 15 October 1931 331 days
  Lang Labor 15 October 1931 13 May 1932
Reginald Weaver   United Australia Stevens (1) 16 May 1932 10 February 1935 2 years, 270 days
Herbert FitzSimons Stevens (2) (3) 11 February 1935 5 August 1939 4 years, 175 days
Hubert Primrose Mair 5 August 1939 5 September 1939 31 days
Herbert FitzSimons 5 September 1939 16 May 1941 1 year, 253 days
Gus Kelly   Labor McKell (1) (2)
McGirr (1) (2) 		16 May 1941 30 June 1950 9 years, 45 days
Maurice O'Sullivan McGirr (3)
Cahill (1) (2) 		30 June 1950 15 March 1956 5 years, 259 days
Bill Sheahan Cahill (3) (4)
Heffron (1) (2)
Renshaw 		15 March 1956 13 May 1965 9 years, 59 days
Harry Jago   Liberal Askin (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 13 May 1965 3 December 1973 8 years, 204 days
John Waddy Askin (6) 3 December 1973 3 January 1975 1 year, 31 days
Dick Healey Lewis (1) (2)
Willis 		3 January 1975 14 May 1976 1 year, 132 days
Kevin Stewart   Labor Wran (1) (2) (3) 14 May 1976 2 October 1981 5 years, 141 days
Laurie Brereton Wran (4) (5) 2 October 1981 10 February 1984 3 years, 0 days
Ron Mulock Wran (6) (7) (8) 10 February 1984 6 February 1986 1 year, 127 days
Barrie Unsworth Unsworth 6 February 1986 4 July 1986 148 days
Minister for Health
Minister for the Drug Offensive 		Peter Anderson 4 July 1986 21 March 1988 1 year, 265 days
Minister for Health Peter Collins   Liberal Greiner (1) 25 March 1988 6 June 1991 3 years, 73 days
Minister for Health and Community Services John Hannaford Greiner (2)
Fahey (1) 		6 June 1991 24 June 1992 1 year, 18 days
Minister for Health Ron Phillips Fahey (2) (3) 24 June 1992 4 April 1995 2 years, 284 days
Andrew Refshauge   Labor Carr (1) (2) 4 April 1995 8 April 1999 4 years, 4 days
Craig Knowles Carr (3) 8 April 1999 2 April 2003 3 years, 359 days
Morris Iemma Carr (4) 2 April 2003 3 August 2005 2 years, 123 days
John Hatzistergos Iemma (1) 3 August 2005 2 April 2007 1 year, 242 days
Reba Meagher Iemma (2) 2 April 2007 5 September 2008 1 year, 156 days
John Della Bosca Rees 5 September 2008 1 September 2009 361 days
John Hatzistergos 1 September 2009 14 September 2009 13 days
Carmel Tebbutt Rees
Keneally 		14 September 2009 28 March 2011 1 year, 226 days
Jillian Skinner   Liberal O'Farrell
Baird (1) (2) 		3 April 2011 30 January 2017 5 years, 302 days
Brad Hazzard Berejiklian (1) 30 January 2017 23 March 2019 6 years, 57 days
Minister for Health and Medical Research Berejiklian (2)
Perrottet (1) 		2 April 2019 21 December 2021
Minister for Health Perrottet (2) 21 December 2021 28 March 2023 [3]
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park   Labor Minns 28 March 2023 5 April 2023 1 year, 30 days
Minister for Health 5 April 2023 incumbent

Mental health

Title Minister[4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Mental Health Kevin Humphries   National O'Farrell 4 April 2011 17 April 2014 3 years, 13 days [11]
Jai Rowell   Liberal Baird (1) 17 April 2014 2 April 2015 350 days [12]
Pru Goward Baird (2) 2 April 2015 23 January 2017 1 year, 296 days [13]
Tanya Davies Berejiklian (1) 30 January 2017 23 March 2019 2 years, 52 days [14]
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor   National Berejiklian (2)
Perrottet (1) 		2 April 2019 21 December 2021 3 years, 360 days [15]
Minister for Mental Health Perrottet (2) 21 December 2021 28 March 2023 [16]
Ryan Park   Labor Minns 28 March 2023 5 April 2023 8 days
Rose Jackson 5 April 2023 incumbent 1 year, 22 days


Assistant ministers

Title Minister[4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Cherie Burton   Labor Iemma (1) 10 August 2005 2 April 2007 1 year, 235 days [17]
Paul Lynch Iemma (2) 2 April 2007 5 September 2008 1 year, 156 days [18]
Barbara Perry Rees 8 September 2008 14 September 2009 2 years, 201 days [19]
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health and Cancer) 14 September 2009 8 December 2009
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Keneally 8 December 2009 28 March 2011

Regional health

The following individuals have served as Minister for regional health, or any precedent titles:

Title Minister[4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor   National Perrottet (2) 21 December 2021 28 March 2023 1 year, 97 days [20]
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park   Labor Minns 28 March 2023 5 April 2023 1 year, 30 days
Minister for Regional Health 5 April 2023 incumbent

Medical research

Title Minister [4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Science and Medical Research Frank Sartor   Labor Carr (4)
Iemma (1) 		2 April 2003 2 April 2007 4 years, 0 days
Verity Firth Iemma (2) 2 April 2007 5 September 2008 1 year, 159 days
Tony Stewart Rees 8 September 2008 4 November 2008 57 days
Jodi McKay Rees
Keneally 		4 November 2008 28 March 2011 2 years, 144 days
Minister for Medical Research Jillian Skinner [a]   Liberal O'Farrell
Baird (1) 		3 April 2011 2 April 2015 3 years, 364 days
Pru Goward Baird (2) 2 April 2015 30 January 2017 1 year, 303 days
Brad Hazzard [a] Berejiklian (1) 30 January 2017 23 March 2019 4 years, 325 days
Minister for Health and Medical Research Berejiklian (2)
Perrottet (1) 		2 April 2019 21 December 2021
Minister for Medical Research David Harris   Labor Minns 5 April 2023 incumbent 1 year, 22 days

Former ministerial titles

Assistant ministers

Title Minister [4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Assistant Minister for Health Deirdre Grusovin   Labor Unsworth 26 November 1987 21 March 1988 116 days
Assistant Minister for Health Jim Longley   Liberal Fahey (2) 3 July 1992 26 May 1993 327 days
Assistant Minister for Health Jai Rowell   Liberal Baird (2) 23 April 2014 2 April 2015 344 days
Pru Goward Berejiklian (1) 2 April 2015 30 January 2017 1 year, 303 days

Hospitals

Title Minister [4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Hospital Management Ron Phillips   Liberal Greiner (2) 6 June 1991 26 June 1991 20 days
Minister for Health Services Management Fahey (1) 26 June 1991 24 June 1992 364 days

Cancer

Title Minister [4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) Frank Sartor   Labor Carr (4)
Iemma (1) 		2 April 2003 2 April 2007 4 years, 0 days
Verity Firth Iemma (2) 2 April 2007 5 September 2008 1 year, 156 days
Tony Stewart Rees 8 September 2008 4 November 2008 57 days
Jodi McKay 4 November 2008 4 December 2009 1 year, 30 days
Frank Sartor Keneally 8 December 2009 28 March 2011 1 year, 110 days

Healthy lifestyles

Title Minister [4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries   National O'Farrell 3 April 2011 17 April 2014 3 years, 14 days

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Concurrently held the Health portfolio.

References

  1. ^ Vukovic, Dom; Gerathy, Sarah; McDonald, Philippa (29 January 2017). "NSW Cabinet reshuffle: Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces big changes to front bench". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Government Notices (30)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 1088-1090. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (662)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 21 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Administrative Arrangements (Second Perrottet Ministry—Allocation of Acts and Agencies) Order 2021". Legislation NSW. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Medical Adviser to the Government". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Department of Public Health [I]". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Office of the Director-General of Public Health (1913-1938) / Department of Public Health [II] (1938-1973)". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  9. ^ "Health Commission of New South Wales". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  10. ^ "NSW Health Department (1982-2009) Department of Health (2009-2011) Ministry of Health (2011- )". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  11. ^ "The Hon. Kevin John Humphries (1960 - )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Mr Jai Traver Rowell MP (1977 - )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  13. ^ "The Hon. (Pru) Prudence Jane Goward". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 30 January 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  15. ^ "Government Notices (30)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 1088-1090. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (662)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 21 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Ms Cherie Ann Burton". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Mr Paul Gerard Lynch, MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  19. ^ "The Hon. Barbara Mazzel Perry (1964- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (662)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 21 December 2021.

External links

Government of New South Wales
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