Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull MP announced the appointment of Federal Member for Flinders, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP as the new Federal Minister for Health and Sport today (January 18, 2017). Hunt succeeds Federal Health Minister, The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, who resigned from Cabinet last week amid ongoing investigations into her alleged use of taxpayer dollars for personal gain.

Based on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Hunt served as Environment Minister for 2013 for several years, before assuming the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio in 2016.

According to Fairfax media this morning, the PM explained the appointment of Hunt to the role is not a major Cabinet reshuffle, citing “It is driven by the consequence of one resignation.

“Mr Hunt had been exceptional in his earlier roles and was ideally suited for the critically important, frontline portfolio of health,” said Turnbull.

As healthcare PR practitioners, we welcome the appointment of Hunt to the Federal Health portfolio and look forward to potentially working with him on public health campaigns, and to reporting on his progress and development in the portfolio.