Ms Kearney takes over from Senator Malarndirri McCarthy as assistant minister for Indigenous Health.
Ged Kearney, the new assistant minister for Indigenous Health, has committed to “listening” to Indigenous leaders and elders while in her new role.
Ms Kearney, the assistant minister for Health and Aged Care, has had responsibility for Indigenous health added to her portfolio following the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle yesterday.
The previous assistant minister, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy has been promoted to the front bench as minister for Indigenous Australians, replacing Linda Burney who has retired from the cabinet and will not stand for re-election.
“As I roll up my sleeves and get across this portfolio, I want to listen to First Nations communities and understand their perspectives on every issue,” Ms Kearney said in a statement to HSD.
“There is so much wisdom and leadership already in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector and I want to hear what’s working well as well as where we can work together to make improvements and reforms.
“I’ve learned a lot from working with Malarndirri McCarthy, particularly on workforce issues and specific challenges facing First Nations communities, such as birthing on country reforms to improve maternal and baby outcomes.
“In the most recent budget, I announced $12.5 million to address period poverty in remote First Nations communities with free pads and tampons.”
Ms Kearney is the member for Cooper in Melbourne, first elected (in Batman) in 2018, and is a former registered nurse, secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation (2008-2010), and former president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (2010-2018).
She became assistant minister for health on 1 June 2022.
During her time with both the ANF and ACTU she worked extensively with the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurse and Midwives, as well as with local First Nations services in her electorate.
The cabinet reshuffle added Home Affairs to Tony Burke’s already crowded portfolio, which also includes minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; minister for Cyber Security; minister for the Arts; and leader of the House.
Julie Collins is now minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and minister for Small Business. Senator Murray Watt is minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Clare O’Neil has been shifted from Home Affairs and is now minister for Housing and minister for Homelessness.
Senator Malarndirri McCarthy takes on the Indigenous Australians portfolio, and Pat Conroy is now the minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery and minister for International Development and the Pacific.
Andrew Giles has been demoted to minister for Skills and Training, and senator Jenny McAllister is now minister for Cities and minister for Emergency Management.
In the assistant minister ranks, apart from Ms Kearney’s change:
Matt Thistlethwaite is assistant minister for Immigration;
Patrick Gorman is assistant to the prime minister; assistant minister for the Public Service; assistant minister to the attorney-general;
Senator Tim Ayres is assistant minister for a Future Made In Australia; assistant minister for Trade;
Senator Anthony Chisholm is assistant minister for Education; assistant minister for Regional Development; assistant minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry;
Kate Thwaites is assistant minister for Social Security; assistant minister for Ageing; assistant minister for Women;
Josh Wilson is assistant minister for Climate Change and Energy; and
Julian Hill is assistant minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.