Mark Butler
- Editorial Team Manager, KINESSO UK&I
England
Telly addict, movie buff, game-player, tea-drinker.
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Articles by Mark Butler
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS EXTENDED AHEAD OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANTISEMITIC BONDI TERRORIST ATTACK
As the one-year anniversary of the antisemitic Bondi terrorist attack approaches, the Albanese Labor Government is extending a range of mental health supports announced in the wake of the tragedy. These services will continue providing crucial mental health support for residents of Bondi and surrounding area, especially those affected by the December 14 attack.
NEW MEDICARE HEALTH CHECK FOR 3-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
A new Medicare health check for 3-year-olds is now available, as part of the Albanese Government’s rollout of Thriving Kids. The 3-year-old Medicare Healthy Kids check was recommended by the Thriving Kids Advisory Group to support interventions prior to children starting primary school and help them to achieve their potential when they do start school.
PBS LISTINGS TO HELP CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS, PLUS PATIENTS WITH BLOOD CANCER AND THYROID DISEASE
The Albanese Government is giving more young children with cystic fibrosis access to a new treatment option, through an expanded listing on the PBS. From 1 November 2026, access to Elexacaftor with tezacaftor and ivacaftor, and ivacaftor (Trikafta®) will be expanded to allow eligible children aged 6 to 11 years living with cystic fibrosis who weigh less than 30 kg to access a granule form of the medicine. This will assist young children to take the medicine, who struggle to swallow a pill.
ONE YEAR ON OVER 4,000 GP PRACTICES BULK BILL ALL PATIENTS
One year on from the Albanese Government’s record investment in Medicare, more Australians are seeing a GP for free, taking the pressure off household budgets. More than 4,000 GP practices across Australia are now fully Medicare Bulk Billing Practices, compared to 2,300 just 12 months ago. Now, 50 per cent of all general practices exclusively bulk bill, compared to 30 per cent a year ago, saving Australian patients and families hundreds of dollars a year on out-of-pocket costs.
TV INTERVIEW SUNRISE FRIDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2026
NATALIE BARR, HOST: The Prime Minister is under fire for his defence of a political dirt sheet his office distributed on MP Helen Haines a month before she was allegedly mowed down in her electorate. Anthony Albanese didn't deny the document's existence, instead saying it is aimed at highlighting that people of integrity stand up for their electorate. But Senator David Pocock slammed that response, accusing the PM of dodging accountability.
RECORD NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT-FUNDED GP TRAINING PLACES IN 2028
Over 2,100 junior doctors will be offered a Commonwealth funded GP training place in 2028, a record number of places for doctors in GP training. Under the Albanese Government, more doctors have joined the Australian health system than at any time in the past decade. Doctor registrations jumped from 6,200 when we came to Government in 2022, to more 10,300 in 2025-26. Applications for the 2027 training year have been extremely strong.
MORE THAN ONE MILLION AUSTRALIANS ACCESS FREE HEALTH ADVICE THROUGH 1800MEDICARE
More than one million Australians have accessed free trusted health advice through the Albanese Government’s 1800MEDICARE telehealth and digital service. 1800MEDICARE is a free phone and digital service that gives people access to expert health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1800MEDICARE is taking pressure off overwhelmed hospital emergency departments and giving trusted health advice to people all across the country.
Landmark funding to address historic gender undervaluation in care sectors
The Albanese Government is investing $630 million to deliver fairer pay to over 460,000 health, disability and community services workers following the Fair Work Commission’s findings that these industries have been undervalued. The Fair Work Commission’s findings recognise that work done by women has been undervalued for too long because of gender-based assumptions.
TV INTERVIEW SUNRISE FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
NATALIE BARR, HOST: Well, business groups have slammed the government’s planned migration crackdown on working holidaymakers, with agriculture, hospitality and tourism sectors saying it will hurt the supply of essential workers in remote and regional Australia, and even drive up fruit and vegetable costs. Labor’s plan to slash the visa group by nearly 40,000 a year has even been met with some internal turmoil within the party’s ranks.
PBS LISTING DELIVERS NEW BREAST CANCER TREATMENT OPTION FOR AUSTRALIAN WOMEN
The Albanese Government is continuing to deliver cheaper medicines with thousands of women expected to benefit from expanded access to a treatment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). From 1 October 2026, Triptorelin 3.75mg (Diphereline®) will become available on the PBS for the treatment[GA1] of a range of women’s health conditions, including breast cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibrosis.
BETTER TRANSPARENCY AND CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE
The Albanese Government has passed legislation to help Australians find the best value when they need specialist medical advice and treatment, fixing the Morrison Government’s failed Medical Costs Finder. The Morrison Government spent $24 million setting up the Medical Costs Finder website, which it claimed would use Medicare data to display the cost of common medical services, alongside the fees that individual specialists voluntarily shared to the website.
Social Security’s unforeseen ally Original
The United States has a major problem. An unsustainable $1.6 trillion (about 23% of the budget) was spent on Social Security in 2025, which was funded through a payroll tax. With time running out, politicians are considering different options to fix this institution, and they’ll need to act quickly. If the cuts don’t come now, more drastic changes will be necessary in the future, and such changes will almost certainly place a large burden on younger generations, like Gen Z. So what should be done?
MORE CHOICE, LOWER COSTS FOR ONE MILLION WOMEN
More than one million Australian women have accessed cheaper medicines for contraception, endometriosis and menopause thanks to the Albanese Government’s landmark nearly $800 million Women’s Health Package. The new figures released during Women’s Health Week, shows the Albanese Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its promise of more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls.
MCGRATH FOUNDATION ADDS PROSTATE CANCER NURSES
The Albanese Government is providing $46.5 million over five years (2027-28 to 2031-32) to further expand the highly regarded McGrath Foundation Cancer Care Nurse service to include prostate cancer nurses from 1 July 2027. This funding will support 60.5 (FTE) prostate cancer nurse positions in health and hospital services around Australia. Male cancer incidence rates in Australia remain high, almost one in two Australian men will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85.
Avustralya 340 Bin Kişiye Demans Mektubu Gönderiyor
Avustralya hükümeti, demans riskini azaltmayı hedefleyen ulusal kampanya kapsamında 50 yaşına yeni basan yaklaşık 340 bin vatandaşına posta yoluyla bilgilendirme mektubu göndermeye başladı. Ülkede ilk kez bu yaş grubuna doğrudan ve hedefli bir beyin sağlığı uyarısı yapılıyor. Vatandaşlara mektupta demans riskini düşürmek için uygulayabilecekleri pratik önlemler hatırlatılıyor.
STRENGTHENING MEDICARE: BULK BILLING ON THE UP
The Albanese Government’s record investment in strengthening Medicare is delivering big benefits for Australians, with access to bulk billing continuing to increase way ahead of schedule. Nationally, the bulk billing rate for the June 2026 quarter rose to 84.1 per cent, up almost five percentage points on the same quarter, last year. Before the Albanese Government started investing in bulk billing, the national rate had fallen to 75.6 per cent.
NEW CLINICAL GUIDELINES FOR DETECTING PROSTATE CANCER
Australian men will benefit from new clinical practice guidelines on the early detection and management of prostate cancer. The new guidelines reflect the latest medical evidence and technological advances in prostate cancer diagnosis and management. They aim to support earlier detection, by focusing on each person’s risk of developing prostate cancer, while reducing the potential harms caused by overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
$180 MILLION FOR FIRST NATIONS HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
Eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) can now apply for a total of $180 million in grant funding from the Albanese Government to improve their clinical buildings and other infrastructure. This funding will support new buildings, as well as upgrades, repairs and maintenance to health infrastructure and housing for health professionals.
PRESS CONFERENCE ADELAIDE WEDNESDAY, 29 JULY 2026
CLAIRE CLUTTERHAM, MEMBER FOR STURT: Good morning everyone, my name is Claire Clutterham, I'm the Federal Member for Sturt in the Australian Parliament, and we're here this morning at Erindale Health and Medical Centre in beautiful Erindale in the eastern part of Sturt.
TV INTERVIEW SUNRISE FRIDAY, 10 JULY 2026
NATALIE BARR, HOST: Pauline Hanson has fired back at Angus Taylor after the Opposition leader delivered his strongest warning yet to Liberal voters to not side with One Nation. Angus blasted the minor party as a one-person show that would cause an eternity of pain. Pauline had this to say. [Excerpt] PAULINE HANSON, ONE NATION LEADER: Angus, I’m not your enemy. You can reflect back on your budget reply speech, you picked up and said a lot of One Nation’s policies.
TECHNICAL EXPERTS TO GUIDE FAIRER, MORE CONSISTENT NDIS ACCESS
A new Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will meet for the first time today, in the next phase of work towards delivering reforms to secure the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The TAG brings together expertise in disability, clinical practice and assessment. It will provide independent advice, helping to develop a robust and consistent approach to assessing substantially reduced functional capacity which will guide access to the NDIS.
REVOLUTIONISING TREATMENT OF LUNG DISEASE
The Albanese Government is providing more than $15 million to Monash University and Atisama Therapeutics to revolutionise the treatment of chronic lung disease with the clinical development of a novel inhaled RNA medicine. The inhaled therapy has the potential to transform the management of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which affects at least 1 in 20 adults and 1 in 10 Indigenous Australians over 40 years old.
NEW FULLY BULK BILLING GP CLINICS TO OPEN IN THE ACT
The Albanese Government will deliver on our election commitment to increase bulk billing in the ACT with the opening of three new fully bulk billing GP clinics. Two clinics will open in Tuggeranong and the Woden Valley (temporary location) this week, with the Gungahlin clinic to open in the next month.
MENOPAUSE CARE AT ALL ENDOMETRIOSIS CLINICS
From 1 July, women across Australia will be able to access menopause and perimenopause care and support through all 33 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain clinics. The expansion builds on the Albanese Labor Government's record investment in women’s health and will help more women access timely, evidenced-based care closer to home.
NEW RESEARCH TO IMPROVE MENOPAUSE CARE FOR WOMEN
The Albanese Government is investing in health and medical research to better support women experiencing menopause. Funded through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Partnership Project scheme, researchers will develop a trusted online decision aid to help women make informed, confident decisions about Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT).
RFDS WELCOMES NEW AIRCRAFT
The Albanese Government’s investment of $1 billion over 10 years in the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has helped to deliver a new aircraft in the fleet servicing people in South Australia and the Northern Territory. Health Minister Mark Butler will cut the ribbon to launch the plane at the Adelaide RFDS Base at Adelaide Airport today.
PRESS CONFERENCE BRISBANE WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE 2026
RENEE COFFEY, MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH: It’s another week and another Griffith Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. We are very happy to be here at the South Brisbane Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. This clinic’s been open for a couple of years.
THE ALBANESE GOVERNMENT DELIVERS ALL MEDICARE URGENT CARE CLINICS PROMISED
The Albanese Government has delivered on its election commitment to open an additional 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics with the final clinic opening in Caloundra, Queensland today. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are providing cost of living relief, helping families access healthcare without the cost, providing free Medicare-backed care close to home. The opening is a historic milestone meaning all 137 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics promised by the Government are now operating around the country.
ONE YEAR ON: ALMOST 100,000 Australians access life-saving lung cancer screening
Almost 100,000 Australians at high risk of lung cancer have accessed free screening in the first year of the Albanese Government’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program, with more than 230 primary lung cancers detected. More than 285 Australians are joining the program each day on average, with early results showing the program is detecting cancer sooner and potentially saving hundreds of lives.
MILESTONE REACHED FOR FLINDERS MEDICAL CENTRE EXPANSION
A major expansion of Flinders Medical Centre being delivered in partnership between the Federal and South Australia Governments, has reached a significant milestone ahead of schedule, and is on track for completion in 2028. The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments are each investing $249 million in the project to build a new Flinders Medical Centre Acute Services Building delivering expanded medical services and an additional 98 beds.
TV INTERVIEW SUNRISE FRIDAY, 12 JUNE 2026
MONIQUE WRIGHT, HOST: One Nation has called in an auditor to verify its multi-million dollar fundraising blitz after coming under scrutiny from Anthony Albanese. The Prime Minister threw doubt on whether Pauline Hanson really raised more than $2 million in two days in a campaign aimed at him called Fire the Liar. [Excerpt] PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: Did she though? Did she? What evidence is there?
$100 MILLION TO DELIVER MORE ARTHRITIS RESEARCH
The Albanese Government is delivering a record amount of funding for Arthritis by establishing a new Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions Research Mission. We will invest $100 million over 10 years to deliver the Mission that will boost research into arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
RADIO INTERVIEW ABC RADIO BRISBANE, DRIVE WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2026
CATHIE SCHNITZERLING: More Urgent Care Clinics, more bulk billing GP’s and cheaper medicine - it sounds like we should all be feeling better. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is in Brisbane today and he's popped into the studio. Welcome, Minister. MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS: Thank you for having me. SCHNITZERLING: You've been visiting some of the Urgent Care Clinics in Brisbane today. How many do we have in Queensland?
DELIVERING MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR QUEENSLANDERS
The Albanese Government is delivering affordable health care to Queenslanders with more bulk billing and cheaper medicines helping ease cost of living pressures. Since the government’s historic investment to strengthen Medicare there are now 683 fully bulk billing GP clinics in Queensland, almost double the number prior to 1 November 2025. Making it easier for people to see a doctor for free, the bulk billing rate has increased to 79.5 per cent in Queensland up 4 percentage points.
TV INTERVIEW SUNRISE FRIDAY, 5 JUNE 2026
NATALIE BARR, HOST: The Federal Government has been forced to defend its scheme to help first home buyers into the market after it was revealed one in five people who use it aren't Australian citizens. The Coalition hitting out because the scheme is open to permanent residents. Housing Minister Clare O'Neil returned serve, accusing the Opposition of, quote: “racing One Nation to the bottom.” For more, we're joined by Health Minister Mark Butler and Deputy Liberal Leader Jane Hume.
PRIORITY AGED CARE SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIANS WITH MND
Motor Neurone Disease is a rare, incurable and fatal condition which is invariably characterised by a rapid deterioration in physical function. As a result of these particular characteristics, the Government will this week amend the Aged Care Rules to recognise MND as a discrete, specific condition warranting urgent priority for Support at Home. This change will give all older Australians with MND priority access to the Support at Home Program.
CHEAPER MEDICINES FOR PEOPLE FIGHTING LEUKAEMIA AND MIGRAINES
The Albanese Government is continuing to deliver cheaper medicines with Australians with types of leukaemia and severe migraines to pay less for expanded Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines from now. Acalabrutinib (Calquence®) will be expanded to offer new treatments for people with untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. Calquence® is a targeted treatment that blocks the protein needed by cancer cells to grow and survive.
FREE URGENT CARE FOR MORE TASMANIANS
The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Medicare with a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic opening in Tasmania. A tender process will commence soon to identify a suitable provider to operate the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in the Glenorchy-Derwent Park region. The clinic will replace one of the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Hobart, provide better access to high‑quality care, closer to home, for people who live in Hobart’s North over extended hours, seven days a week.
RESEARCH FUNDING INTO AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST KILLER
The Albanese Government is providing an additional $22.9 million for research grants into the leading cause of death in Australia – dementia - and projects to achieve life improving treatments for people as they age. Delivered through the Medical Research Future Fund, eight grants up to five years have been approved in the latest round, as part of the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission.
TV INTERVIEW ABC NEWS BREAKFAST MONDAY, 25 MAY 2026
EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Well, the Federal Government is launching a campaign to help women going through menopause and perimenopause to better understand their symptoms. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler joins us now from Canberra. Minister, good morning. MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS: Morning Emma. REBELLATO: This is a huge issue, as we know. It's affecting half the population. What is this campaign going to do to help them?
DARWIN MEDICARE URGENT CARE CLINIC NOW OPEN
The Albanese Government is delivering for residents in the Northern Territory with the opening of the Darwin Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. Located at 8 Osgood Drive, Eaton, the Darwin Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is now open extended hours, seven days a week. No appointment is needed, patients can walk in and all services are bulk billed.
DELIVERING THE FIRST NATIONAL MENOPAUSE CAMPAIGN FOR AUSTRALIAN WOMEN
The Albanese Government is continuing to deliver better healthcare for women with the launch of the first ever national Menopause and Perimenopause Campaign. The campaign will help women to better understand their symptoms, access trusted information and feel more confident seeking care and support. Perimenopause and menopause can affect every woman differently, with symptoms ranging from hot flushes and sleep problems to anxiety, brain fog and changes to mental health and wellbeing.
$31 MILLION FOR BETTER MEDICAL CARE FOR AUSTRALIANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
The Albanese Government is helping to deliver healthcare to Australians experiencing or at risk of homelessness with a $31 million investment over two years in the Homelessness Access Program. Administered by Primary Health Networks (PHN) around Australia, this program is helping to connect people with the care they need, when and where they need it.
$7.2 MILLION RESPONSE PACKAGE TO DIPHTHERIA OUTBREAK
The Albanese Government is delivering a $7.2 million package to support the Northern Territory Government, and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector respond to the diphtheria outbreak. This includes: $5.2 million for the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre to provide surge workforce to administer booster vaccinations and treatments, and to procure additional vaccines and antibiotics.
WYOMING MEDICAL CENTRE WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2026
EMMA MCBRIDE, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR MENAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION: Thank you for joining us today in Wyoming, in my electorate of Dobell. I’m so pleased to be joined a colleague and friend, Dr Gordon Reid, the Member for Robertson, and Minister Butler, our Health Minister, returning to the Central Coast. Since our government has been elected, we’ve made historic investments in Medicare and in bulk billing to boost access to bulk billing, which was in free fall when we came to government.
RADIO INTERVIEW ABC CENTRAL COAST WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2026
CAROLINE PERRYMAN, HOST: Now, you might recall that funding has been promised in the federal budget for two bulk billing clinics here on the Central Coast. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is on the coast today to promote the initiative and joins us this morning. Thanks for your time, Mr Butler. MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS: Morning, Caroline.
RADIO INTERVIEW TRIPLE M CENTRAL COAST WEDNESDAY, 20 MAY 2026
PADDY GERRARD, HOST: We’ve got an announcement today, Mazzy. We have got Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing in Australia. He joins us – g’day, Mark. MAZ COMPTON, HOST: Hey, Mark. How are you going? MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS: What a beautiful day. GERRARD: Not too bad. Are you on the Central Coast today? BUTLER: I am. I'm in Gosford looking out over the lakes. It's just beautiful. Stunning. COMPTON: Oh, we should hang out. We're in Gosford.
RADIO INTERVIEW ABC NEWCASTLE TUESDAY, 19 MAY 2026
PAUL CULLIVER, HOST: All right, as we've been talking about, $25 million for up to six new bulk billing clinics for the region, Hunter, Newcastle, Central Coast. And we said, well, we should probably get the Health Minister on to talk about it. Turns out he's come to Newcastle to do exactly that. Minister, hello. MARK BUTLER, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND AGEING, MINISTER FOR DISABILITY AND THE NDIS: Here I am. How are you, Paul? CULLIVER: I'm very well. Good to have you here to get some detail about this.
PRESS CONFERENCE NEWCASTLE TUESDAY, 19 MAY 2026
PAT CONROY, MEMBER FOR SHORTLAND: Well, good morning everyone. I'm Pat Conroy, the Federal Member for Shortland.
RADIO INTERVIEW 2HD BREAKFAST TUESDAY, 19 MAY 2026
RICHARD KING, HOST: Well, today appropriately is in fact World Family Doctor Day, and right now joining me - and he will be at a press conference a little later this morning in Charlestown, along with Pat Conroy and Sharon Claydon, the Member for Shortland and Member for Newcastle, to talk about the six new bulk billing GP clinics, which will be opening in our neck of the words – Newcastle, Hunter Region, Central Coast – in the next twelve months or so.
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