Election Promises 2022

The Research Australia Pre-Election Promise Tracker keeps you up to date with the key health and medical research commitments and policies of the Coalition, ALP and the Australian Greens during the federal election 2022.

Research Australia advocates on many issues on behalf of our members, which we have also detailed in our Pre-Election Promise Tracker. The Tracker will be updated regularly as announcements are made throughout the election campaign. A pre-election statement on behalf of Australia’s health and medical research sector can be found here.

Health and Medical Research and Innovation

Research Australia has advocated on behalf of the HMR sector for:

  • The development and implementation of a National Health and Medical Research Strategy
  • The development and implementation of a National Medical Health and Medical Research Workforce Plan
  • A substantially increased investment in national innovation and commitment to increasing spending on R&D to at least 0.75% of GDP annually, over the forward estimates
  • Funding for the research programs of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Research Council (ARC) to be increased in real terms and in their own right, in the 2022-23 Budget and over the forward estimates
  • A National RNA Technology Mission to be established by the Government, building on the work the Commonwealth has already undertaken to establish an onshore mRNA manufacturing capability
  • Setting of clear and ambitious goals if Australia is to become a net exporter of pharmaceuticals. For example, one such goal would be to become a net exporter of pharmaceuticals by 2035
  • The Government to investigate how it can further support the development of domestic manufacturing capability of medical products for clinical trials, including funding a feasibility study into establishing one or more manufacturing facilities for clinical trial materials to capitalise on Australia’s global competitive advantage in clinical trials
  • The Government to investigate the provision of facilities in partnership with the health and medical research and innovation sector and funding models involving consortia of government and private investors
  • The Government to develop an Australian equivalent of the US Government’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM), with the objective of supporting the development and domestic manufacture of new medical products needed to protect the health of the Australian population.

Pre-election commitments by the Coalition, ALP and Greens:

Coalition Labor Greens
 $995,000 to develop five new Optimal Care Pathways and a new set of clinical guidelines for a range of blood cancers.[1]

$28 million to establish Genomic Australia.[2]

An agreement with Moderna that secures production of up to 100 million Australian made mRNA doses every year and support 500 direct jobs during construction, and up to 200 highly skills skilled staff at the facility after 2024. [3]

$77 million commitment to establish a Comprehensive Cancer Centre in SA with world-leading research, education and clinical care. The project is expected to see 2,000 cancer cases prevented, diagnosed and treated each year across SA and the NT.[4]

Introducing a patent box which will tax revenue from medical and biotech innovations at a concessional rate of 17 percent, helping to ensure new products are commercialised in Australia.[5]

Investing $26.9 million to help address allergic diseases and anaphylaxis through research.[6]

Will invest up to $375 million to establish a landmark Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Queensland to provide world-class cancer care. The Centre will combine research, diagnosis, treatment, and care which lead to better health outcomes and a greater chance of survival for cancer patients. * [7]

 

 $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to boost manufacture and commercialisation of Australian made medical supplies.[8]

Investing $1 billion in advanced manufacturing, as part of the National Reconstruction Fund. The investment will create new capabilities and opportunities to innovate in transport, defence, resources, agricultural and food processing, medical science, renewables, and low emission technologies manufacturing.[9]

Investing $1.5 billion dollars into a Medical Manufacturing Fund, part of the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund. The Labor Party will then work with industry to identify ways that government procurement strategies can be used to build local manufacturing capability, create high-value jobs and strengthen key strategic capabilities.[10]

Buy Australian Plan[11]:

Establish a Future Made in Australia Office, backed up by laws that will lock in key elements of Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) to actively support local industry in taking advantage of government purchasing opportunities.

Maximise opportunities for Aussie businesses in major infrastructure projects.

 

 $17.8 billion investment into Research and Development over the decade (2030).

Building and operating an mRNA vaccine production facility.

Investing 4% GDP in science, research and innovation by 2030:

Boosting funding for universities by $5.5 billion to elevate their roles as powerhouses of the research ecosystem, providing job security for scientists working in universities.

$1 billion a year for a research translation fund which will turn leading ideas into world changing applications.

Creating a new Parliamentary office of Science and Technology to provide independent, objective advice to members of Parliament.

$1.3 billion in key research bodies such as the CSIRO, Australian Nuclear Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Centre, Cooperative Research Centres.

An additional non-refundable tax offset of 20% for companies that hire STEM PhD students in their first 3 years of employment.

$50 million per year to improve diversity in science and research and development that support first Nations peoples, women and LGBTIQA+ people in science.

$50 million per year for Secure Work for Researchers fund, to assist universities and research institutes transition their workers to secure employment.

$70 million per year in additional funding for the Australian Research Council’s Future Fellowships scheme to support mid-career researchers.

$41 million per year in additional funding for existing teacher training in STEM education.[12]

*Contingent on agreement with Queensland Government.

Education

Research Australia has advocated on behalf of the HMR sector for:

  • The Chief Scientist to lead a review of the funding of indirect research costs to establish a sustainable and equitable funding program. The cuts to the Research Block Grants outlined in the October 2020 Budget and retained in the May 2021 Budget must be reversed
  • The pool of funding for the Research Support Program and the Research Training Program to be increased to reflect the inclusion of MRFF competitive grants in the Programs
  • An additional stream of the IRIISS program to be funded by the Department of Health to cover the indirect costs associated with MRFF funding incurred by IMRIs.

Pre-election commitments by the Coalition, ALP and Greens:

Coalition Labor Greens
$4.2 million through the Flexible Approach to Training in Expanded Settings (FATES) program to encourage specialists to undertake rural and regional placements and training.[13] Promises to deliver up to 20,000 extra university student places over two years, with an expected cost of $481.7 million.[14] Abolishing all student debt and making TAFE and university fee-free for students.[15]

Pandemic Preparedness 

Research Australia has advocated on behalf of the HMR sector for:

  • The Government to initiate and lead a whole of governments review of pandemic preparedness and the development of a plan to mitigate the economic, societal and health impacts of the next pandemic
  • The need to address supply chain issues in the development and manufacturing of new technologies in Australia.  Research Australia’s submission to the consultation on critical technologies is available here.

Pre-election commitments by the Coalition, ALP and Greens:

Coalition Labor Greens
  Establishing an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to better coordinate and prepare for future pandemics.[16] $246 million for a National Centre for Disease Control (CDC) for future pandemic preparedness.

$250 million over two years for COVID-19 vaccine research.

Primary Care

Research Australia has advocated on behalf of the HMR sector for:

  • A sustained investment in translational primary care research commensurate with the reform task outlined by the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan
  • The creation of an Institute for Primary Health Care Translational Research and Innovation and the critical role an Institute could play in the implementation of the 10 Year Plan. We proposed the development of primary health care research agenda, supporting each action area of the 10 Year Plan. Read Research Australia’s submission here.
  • Research be informed by primary care practitioners (including nurses and midwives, allied health and general practitioners) and patients and carers. Research Australia’s submission is available here.

Pre-election commitments by the Coalition, ALP and Greens:

Coalition Labor Greens
Growing the health portfolio from $132 billion in 2022-23, to $140 billion in 2025-26, guarantees Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), delivers more health services, expands Australian medical research, and ensures we can make the best investments for health in Australia. [17]

Will invest $28 million to establish a National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health. Including $8 million over two years for establishment of the Centre and $20 million for a grant round through the Medical Research Future Fund. [18]

Investing more than $1 billion to boost rural health, including $146 million in new funding to encourage more doctors and allied health professionals into regional and rural communities.[19]

 $38.4 million to deliver a world’s best practice screening program – helping identify and treat rare diseases allowing conditions in newborns to be diagnosed. [20]

Investing an additional $146 million for initiatives to deliver more doctors in rural and regional Australia.[21]

Committing $750 million over three years to implement measures recommended in the national primary healthcare 10-year plan, including the MyGP voluntary patient enrolment initiative.[22]

  

Digital and Telehealth

Research Australia has advocated on behalf of the HMR sector for:

  • Research Australia urges the Government to ensure the AIHW is adequately resourced to prepare for and undertake the significant new role of preparing and providing deidentified My Health Record data for research and public health purposes.
  • Research Australia has proposed an update on progress on the 2018 Framework for Action.·
  • We have suggested there are lessons to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about the role digital technologies play in health and the capacity for greater advances when the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments share data and cooperate.
  • Research Australia’s submission is available here.

Pre-election commitments by the Coalition, ALP and Greens:

Coalition Labor Greens
Investing $1.9 million for a satellite telehealth clinic to support patients in need of radiation oncology services. [23] Spending $31.3 million over the forward estimates to reinstate Medicare support for telehealth mental health consultations. This is expected to support 450 000 consultations over 4 years, 585 000 consultations over 5 years, and 1.426 million consultations over ten years. [24]

Provide $1.5 million to fund the development of the HearHub platform, a digital service that will deliver hearing tests, educational resources, and practical support for families online. Through an additional $2.5 million in funding, HearHub will be operated through two new Shepherd Centres in Launceston and Hobart. A further $2.5 million will also go to a new Shepherd Centre in Oran Park, Sydney. [25]

 Plan to make telehealth a permanent feature of the healthcare system – investing $772 million into expanding and strengthening telehealth services. [26]

If you have any feedback, please email Matthijs de Ruijter at matthijs.ruijter@researchaustralia.org

References

[1] Hon Greg Hunt MP, ‘Better care and treatment for Australians with blood cancer’, 15 March, 2022, https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/better-care-and-treatment-for-australians-with-blood-cancer

[2] Hon Greg Hunt MP, ‘Genomics Australia to guide the future of genomic health and medicine over the coming decade’, 23 March 2022, https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/melbourne-press-conference-20-march-2022-on-genomics-australia-to-guide-the-future-of-genomic-health-and-medicine-over-the-coming-decade

[3]ALP, ‘National Reconstruction Fund’, Canberra, ACT, 2022, https://www.alp.org.au/policies/national_reconstruction_fund

[4] Hon Scott Morrison MP, Hon Simon Birmingham, ‘TRANSFORMING CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT IN SA’, Liberal Party of Australia – Media Release, 04 May 2022.

[5] Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, Hon Angus Taylor, Hon Greg Hunt MP, ‘New assurance to support investment in clinical trials’, Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia, 20 January, 2022, https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/josh-frydenberg-2018/media-releases/new-assurance-support-investment-clinical-trials

[6] Hon Greg Hunt MP & Katie Allen MP, ‘STRENGTHENING RESEARCH INTO ALLERGIC DISEASES AND ANAPHYLAXIS’, The Liberal Party – Media Release, 07 May, 2022.

[7] S Morrison PM and Hon G Hunt MP, ‘$375 million for a new landmark Queensland Comprehensive Cancer Centre’, The Liberal Party – Media Release, May 15, 2022, https://www.liberal.org.au/latest-news/2022/05/15/375-million-new-landmark-queensland-comprehensive-cancer-centre

[8] ALP, Labor’s Buy Australian Plan, Canberra, ACT, 2022, https://alp.org.au/policies/labors-buy-australian-plan

[9]Hon A Albanese MP and Hon R Miles MP, ‘LABOR’S $1 BILLION INVESTMENT IN ADVANCE MANUFACTURING’, The Labor Party – Media Release, May 15th, 2022 https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/media-centre/labors-1-billion-investment-in-advanced-manufacturing-marles-husic

[10] J Riley, ‘Be prepared: Labor’s $1.5b fund for medical manufacturing’, InnovationAus, May 16, 2022, https://www.innovationaus.com/be-prepared-labors-1-5b-fund-for-medical-manufacturing/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20675%20-%2017%20May%202022&utm_content=Newsletter%20675%20-%2017%20May%202022+CID_caa8fb82d72a96965090d0cafac03014&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Labors%2015b%20fund%20for%20medical%20manufacturing&utm_term=Labors%2015b%20fund%20for%20medical%20manufacturing

[11] D Cox, ‘Greens Announce Plan to Make Australia R&D Superpower’, The Greens, 14 March, 2022.

[12] Hon G Hunt MP, ‘$4.2million to get specialists in the bush’, Department of Health, Canberra, ACT, 2022, https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/the-australian-government-invests-42-million-to-get-specialists-in-the-bush (23/03/2022)

[13] Hon Scott Morrison PM, ‘Partnership Secures Australian-Made MRNA Vaccines’, Prime Minister of Australia, March 24, 2022, Partnership secures Australian-made mRNA vaccines | Prime Minister of Australia (pm.gov.au) (accessed 20/04/2022)

[14] D Lewins/ AAP, ‘Labor offers extra university places, but more radical change is needed’, The Conversation, December 6, 2021, https://theconversation.com/labor-offers-extra-university-places-but-more-radical-change-is-needed-173219

[15] Senator Mehreen Faruqi, ‘Greens announce plan to wipe student debt and make TAFE and uni free’, The Greens – Media Release, March 24, 2022.

[16] ALP, ‘Will you support an Australian Centre for Disease Control?’, Canberra, ACT, 2022, https://www.alp.org.au/australian_cdc (accessed 03 March 2022)

[17] Hon Greg Hunt MP, Sen Hon Anne Ruston, ‘SECURING THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIA’S WORLD CLASS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM’ Department of Health – joint media release, April 17, 2022.

[18] CCH, Wolters Kluwer, ‘Federal Political Briefing’, Vol 12 no. 7, Friday 22 April, 2022 p 41-42.

[19] Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, Hon Greg Hunt MP, Hon Dr David Gillespie MP, ‘Landmark investment to boost rural doctor workforce’, Liberal Party of Australia – Media Release, 03 May 2022.

[20] Anthony Albanese MP, ‘LABOR WILL END THE NEWBORN HEALTH SCREENING LOTTERY’, The Australian Labor Party – Media Release, April 6, 2022.

[21] Hon Mark Butler MP, ‘LABOR WILL IMPROVE REGIONAL AND RURAL HEALTH SERVICES’, The Labor Party, May 03, 2022, https://www.markbutler.net.au/news/media-releases/labor-will-improve-regional-and-rural-health-services/

[22] K McDonald, ‘Labor commits to implementing 10-year primary healthcare plan and VPE’, Pulse+IT, May 16, 2022, https://www.pulseitmagazine.com.au/australian-ehealth/6589-labor-commits-to-implementing-10-year-primary-healthcare-plan-and-vpe?utm_source=Pulse%2BIT+-+eNewsletters&utm_campaign=17a4e8d597-PulseIT_eNews_17_05_2022&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b39f06f53f-17a4e8d597-413246276&goal=0_b39f06f53f-17a4e8d597-413246276&mc_cid=17a4e8d597&mc_eid=abeb5fae0b

[23] Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, ‘BETTER SUPPORT FOR GLADSTONE CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADIOTHERAPY’, The Nationals, April 19, 2022, https://nationals.org.au/better-support-for-gladstone-cancer-patients-undergoing-radiotherapy/

[24] CCH, Wolters Kluwer, ‘Federal Political Briefing’, Vol 12 no. 7, Friday 22 April, 2022 p 16-17.

[25] Anthony Albanese MP, ‘Better Care for Australian Children With Hearing Loss’, Australian Labor Party, Monday 11, 2022, https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/media-centre/better-care-for-australian-children-with-hearing-loss-butler

[26] Steele-John J, ‘Greens Commit to Making Telehealth Permanent’, The Greens, April 12 2022, https://greensmps.org.au/articles/greens-commit-making-telehealth-permanent