:Chief Medical Officer (Australia)
{{Short description|Principal health advisor to the government of Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
The Chief Medical Officer is the principal health advisor to the Australian government. The position is a medical appointment, reporting to the Departmental secretary for the Department of Health and Aged Care.{{cite news |last1=Schulz |first1=Amber |title=The man behind the eyebrows: just who is Brendan Murphy? |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2020/04/16/brendan-murphy-profile-coronavirus/ |accessdate=12 June 2020 |work=Crikey |date=16 April 2020}} The position is responsible for the Office of Health Protection which itself has responsibility for biosecurity, immunisation and disease surveillance. The position is also responsible for "maintaining high-quality relationships between the department, the medical profession, medical colleges, universities and other key stakeholders". Other responsibilities of the position vary according to the skills and background of the officeholder. The position was created in November 1982 because the newly appointed Director-General of Health was not a doctor.{{cite web |title=Top management changes in the Department of Health |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressrel/HPR10019734/upload_binary/HPR10019734.pdf |last=Carlton |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Charlton |date=23 November 1982 |access-date=15 June 2020 |website=parlinfo.aph.gov.au}} The position is an advisory in nature and does not have executive or operational authority.{{cite web |last1=Brew |first1=Nigel |last2=Burton |first2=Kate |title=Australia's capacity to respond to an infectious disease outbreak |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0405/05rp03 |publisher=Parliament of Australia |accessdate=15 June 2020 |date=16 November 2004 |quote=The CMO does not have an executive or operational role in relation to managing health issues, and contrary to how the role is sometimes understood, the Office does not appear to be entirely independent from the Commonwealth Government.}}
{{as of|2024|10|22}}, the Chief Medical Officer is Tony Lawler,{{Cite web |date=25 October 2024 |title=Chief Medical Officer |url=https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/chief-medical-officer |access-date=25 October 2024 |website=Department of Health and Aged Care |publisher=Australian Government}} who succeeded Paul Kelly.
{{as of|2021|1|23}}, the joint Deputy Chief Medical Officers were Nick Coatsworth, Ruth Vine and Michael Kidd.{{Cite web|date=15 January 2021|title=Our medical experts : Department of Health News and Alerts|url=https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/government-response-to-the-covid-19-outbreak/our-medical-experts|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414123449/https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/government-response-to-the-covid-19-outbreak/our-medical-experts |archive-date=14 April 2020 |access-date=|website=Australian Government Department of Health}} In May 2020, psychiatrist Ruth Vine was appointed the first Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health.{{Citation | title=New deputy chief medical officer for medical health | date=19 May 2020 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (ABC Radio National, RN Breakfast)| url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/new-deputy-chief-medical-officer-for-medical-health/12262274 |format =audio and text| accessdate=12 June 2020 }}
Previous officers include John Horvath in 2003,{{Citation | author1=Halton, Jane | title=Renal expert named new Chief Medical Officer for Australia | date=28 July 2003 | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/192989353 | accessdate=12 June 2020 }} Jim Bishop in 2009,{{Citation | author1=Australian Broadcasting Corporation. News | title=Chief Medical Officer says problems will be solved | date=28 August 2009 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/190076483 | accessdate=12 June 2020 }}{{Citation | author1=Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Radio National | title=Australia's Chief Medical Officer on Japan radiation risk | date=17 March 2011 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/188289255 | accessdate=13 June 2020 }} and Chris Baggoley from August 2011{{Citation | author =Australian Broadcasting Corporation. News|title =Chief medical officer takes exception to avian flu warning | date=30 August 2011 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/188241764 | accessdate=12 June 2020 }} until 2016. The role has recently been focused on immigration and related health issues, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The position is head of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/there-s-a-reason-chief-medical-officer-brendan-murphy-looks-so-tired-20200305-p54736.html |title=There's a reason Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy looks so tired |first=Dana |last=McCauley |date=6 March 2020 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=10 April 2020}} and in that role an adviser to the National Cabinet of Australia, created in response to the pandemic.{{cite news |url=https://theconversation.com/scott-morrison-indicates-eliminating-covid-19-would-come-at-too-high-a-cost-135857 |title=Scott Morrison indicates 'eliminating' COVID-19 would come at too high a cost |first=Michelle |last=Grattan |authorlink=Michelle Grattan |date= 7 April 2020 |work=The Conversation |accessdate=10 April 2020}}
In June 2024, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth admitted he had not had a COVID vaccine for two years and stated he would not be getting any more vaccinations for the virus.[https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/were-owed-an-apology-for-vaccine-mandates/news-story/15069d5dc78d8385788b7e7e3a4bde19 "Major apology millions of Aussies deserve. Mounting evidence shows the vaccines were rushed, less effective than you’d expect of a jab and – in some cases – dangerous"], news.com.au. Accessed 15 June 2024.
Annual reports
Separate printed reports from the officer were available before 2003; after that time they became incorporated into the departmental reports.{{Citation | author1=Australia. Chief Medical Officer | title=Chief Medical Officer's report [1997-98] | date=1998 | publisher=The Dept | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34318533 | accessdate=13 June 2020 }}{{Citation | author1=Australia. Department of Health and Aged Care | title=Chief Medical Officer's report | date=1998 | publisher=The Department | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33565442 | accessdate=13 June 2020 }}
List of Chief Medical Officers
- David de Souza (1983–1988){{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242153304 |title=Health |newspaper=Commonwealth of Australia Gazette |date=21 April 1983 |access-date=15 June 2020 |page=2121 |via=Trove }}{{Cite web |date=1 December 2014 |title=History of the Department |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-history.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20141215011424/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-history.htm |publisher=The Department of Health |archive-date=15 December 2014 |access-date=15 June 2020 |url-status=live }}
- Tony Adams (1988–1997)
- Judith Whitworth (1997–1999)
- Richard Smallwood (1999–2003)
- John Horvath (2003–2009)
- Jim Bishop (2009–2011)
- Chris Baggoley (2011–2016)
- Brendan Murphy (2016–2020)
- Paul Kelly (2020–2024){{Cite web|title=Professor Paul Kelly appointed as Australia's new Chief Medical Officer {{!}} Prime Minister of Australia|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/professor-paul-kelly-appointed-australias-new-chief-medical-officer|access-date=22 December 2020|website=www.pm.gov.au}}
- Tony Lawler (2024–present)
Related roles and terminology
=States and territories=
Most of the principal health advisors in each state and territory bear the title Chief Health Officer (CHO), apart from South Australia (Chief Public Health Officer) and Tasmania (Chief Medical Officer). During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the state CHOs became prominent as advisors regarding the state responses, and in particular closure of state borders.{{cite news |last1=Farhart |first1=Claudia |title=Who are the experts behind Australia's coronavirus response? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/who-are-the-experts-behind-australia-s-coronavirus-response# |accessdate=16 September 2020 |work=SBS News |date=19 April 2020 }} The CMOs/CHOs are part of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee which advises the National Cabinet on health matters, which has been particularly important during the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=Aubusson |first1=Kate |last2=Mannix |first2=Liam |title=Good Weekend's 40 Australians Who Mattered: Health and Science |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/good-weekend-s-40-australians-who-mattered-health-and-science-20201113-p56e94.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 November 2020 |language=en}}
{{as of|2025}}, the principal health advisors in each state and territory are:
- Australian Capital Territory: Kerryn Coleman, CHO{{cite web | first1=Julia|last1= Kanapathippillai|first2= Dan | last2=Jervis-Bardy | title=Canberra coronavirus preparation: chief health officer says to be prepared, but don't stockpile | website=The Canberra Times | date=3 August 2020 | url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6861484/canberrans-urged-to-prepare-home-kits-in-case-of-new-outbreak/ | access-date=23 November 2020}}{{cite web | title=ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman |first=Toby|last= Hunt|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| website=ABC News | date=5 July 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-05/act-chief-health-officer-kerryn-coleman/12275534 | access-date=23 November 2020}}
- New South Wales: Kerry Chant, CHO
- Northern Territory: Dr Christine Connors, CHO{{cite web | title=Updates | website=Coronavirus (COVID-19) | url=https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/updates | access-date=23 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/leadership-and-governance/council/members-council-2015-2018-triennium|title=Members of the NHMRC Council, 2015-2018 triennium|website=NHMRC|access-date=23 November 2020}}
- Queensland: Dr Heidi Carroll, CHO{{cite web|last=Layt|first=Stuart|date=22 November 2021|title=John Gerrard announced as new Queensland Chief Health Officer as jab push continues|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/john-gerrard-announced-as-new-qld-chief-health-officer-as-jab-push-continues-20211122-p59az0.html|url-status=live|access-date=22 November 2021|website=Brisbane Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122022107/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/john-gerrard-announced-as-new-qld-chief-health-officer-as-jab-push-continues-20211122-p59az0.html |archive-date=22 November 2021 }}
- South Australia: Nicola Spurrier, Chief Public Health Officer
- Tasmania: Dr Dinesh Arya, Chief Medical Officer {{cite news |author1=Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health |title=COVID-19 update |url=https://www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/media-releases/covid-19-update4 |access-date=23 September 2021 |publisher=Tasmanian Government |date=14 January 2021}}
- Victoria: Clare Looker, CHO{{cite web |title=About the Chief Health Officer |url= https://www.health.vic.gov.au/chief-health-officer/about-the-chief-health-officer |website=health.vic.gov.au |publisher=Department of Health (Victoria) |access-date=26 April 2021 |language=en-AU |date=2020 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509054045/https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/chief-health-officer/about |archive-date=9 May 2018 }}
- Western Australia: Andrew Robertson, CHO
=In sport=
Many of the major professional sports bodies in Australia, including the Australian Institute of Sport, appoint a Chief Medical Officer, usually a sport and exercise medicine physician, to advise on medical matters.{{cite web | title=Ask The Expert: Getting back to sport | website=dailytelegraph | date=10 May 2020 | url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/coronavirus/hibernation/australian-institute-of-sport-chief-medical-officer-dr-david-hughes-answers-your-questions/news-story/efbd309f1b62b847ecfe8c9fbf7fc6ff | access-date=23 November 2020}}{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=Emma | title=Dr Carolyn Broderick appointed Chief Medical Officer | website=Tennis Australia | date=21 June 2017 | url=https://www.tennis.com.au/news/2017/06/21/dr-carolyn-broderick-appointed-chief-medical-officer | access-date=23 November 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/chief-medical-officer Chief Medical Officer] – Department of Health