On Tuesday 9 May, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP (Treasurer of Australia) delivered the Albanese Government’s 2023-24 Federal Budget. Overall Australian Government spending on health, aged care and sport in 2023-24 is $137.6 billion.
As the national peak body for Australians living with a rare disease, Rare Voices Australia (RVA) attended the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Portfolio Briefing Webinar Presentation and Q&A on Wednesday 10 May. The webinar included the Hon Mark Butler MP (Minister for Health and Aged Care); the Hon Ged Kearney MP (Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care); the Hon Emma McBride MP (Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health); the Hon Anika Wells MP (Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Sport); and Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy (Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health). The session was facilitated by Prof Brendan Murphy AC, Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care.
RVA Statement: 2023-24 Federal Budget
RVA has highlighted some areas of the Federal Budget we believe are most relevant to the estimated two million Australians living with a rare disease and the rare disease sector. RVA’s work is non-disease specific and is based on the commonalities of rare disease. Our advocacy focuses on rare disease policy, processes and systems. We advocate for all rare disease communities and remain committed to ongoing work with all governments to progress the systemic implementation of the Australian Government’s National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Diseases.
