Minister for Health (New South Wales) Last updated March 21, 2025 Office history The role of a government advisor and administrator on medical policy in New South Wales began in 1914, with the appointment of Fred Flowers as the Minister for Public Health . However the medical portfolio had been administered in the government since 1848 when the first "Medical Adviser to the Government" was appointed, with his office reporting to the Colonial Secretary . [ 6] Following the amalgamation of the Board of Health and the Medical Advisor to the Government a "Department of Public Health" was established in April 1904, headed by the President of the Board of Health. [ 7] This department was abolished in 1913 and was replaced by the "Office of the Director-General of Public Health" which, like its predecessor, operated under the supervision of the Colonial Secretary. Upon Flowers' appointment as Minister for Public Health, a dedicated government minister supervised the portfolio while remaining the junior minister to the Colonial Secretary. The office was reconstituted as a fully independent "Department of Public Health" headed by the Minister (titled Minister for Health since 1930) in 1938. [ 8]
The department existed until its abolition in 1972 with the passing of the Health Commission Act 1972 which created the "Health Commission of New South Wales" headed by the minister. [ 9] In December 1982 the Health Commission was abolished by the Health Administration Act 1982 and replaced by the Department of Health. On 5 October 2011 the department was renamed the "Ministry of Health ". [ 10]
List of ministers Health Title Minister [ 4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes Minister for Public Health Fred Flowers Labor Holman (1) 22 April 1914 27 April 1915 1 year, 5 days George Black 27 April 1915 15 November 1916 1 year, 202 days Jack FitzGerald Nationalist Holman (2) 15 November 1916 18 July 1919 2 years, 245 days David Storey 18 July 1919 29 January 1920 195 days Minister for Public Health and Motherhood Greg McGirr Labor Storey Dooley (1) 9 February 1920 20 December 1921 1 year, 314 days Minister for Public Health Charles Oakes Nationalist Fuller (1) 20 December 1921 a.m. 20 December 1921 p.m. Greg McGirr Labor Dooley (2) 20 December 1921 13 April 1922 114 days Charles Oakes Nationalist Fuller (2) 12 April 1922 17 June 1925 3 years, 66 days George Cann Labor Lang (1) 17 June 1925 26 May 1927 1 year, 343 days Robert Stuart-Robertson Lang (2) 26 May 1927 18 October 1927 145 days Richard Arthur Nationalist Bavin 18 October 1927 3 November 1930 3 years, 16 days Minister for Health James McGirr Labor Lang (3) 4 November 1930 17 June 1931 225 days Bill Ely 17 June 1931 15 October 1931 331 days Lang Labor 15 October 1931 13 May 1932 Reginald Weaver United Australia Stevens (1) 16 May 1932 10 February 1935 2 years, 270 days Herbert FitzSimons Stevens (2) (3) 11 February 1935 5 August 1939 4 years, 175 days Hubert Primrose Mair 5 August 1939 5 September 1939 31 days Herbert FitzSimons 5 September 1939 16 May 1941 1 year, 253 days Gus Kelly Labor McKell (1) (2 )McGirr (1) (2) 16 May 1941 30 June 1950 9 years, 45 days Maurice O'Sullivan McGirr (3) Cahill (1) (2) 30 June 1950 15 March 1956 5 years, 259 days Bill Sheahan Cahill (3) (4) Heffron (1) (2) Renshaw 15 March 1956 13 May 1965 9 years, 59 days Harry Jago Liberal Askin (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 13 May 1965 3 December 1973 8 years, 204 days John Waddy Askin (6) 3 December 1973 3 January 1975 1 year, 31 days Dick Healey Lewis (1) (2) Willis 3 January 1975 14 May 1976 1 year, 132 days Kevin Stewart Labor Wran (1) (2) (3) 14 May 1976 2 October 1981 5 years, 141 days Laurie Brereton Wran (4) (5) 2 October 1981 10 February 1984 3 years, 0 days Ron Mulock Wran (6) (7) (8) 10 February 1984 6 February 1986 1 year, 127 days Barrie Unsworth Unsworth 6 February 1986 4 July 1986 148 days Minister for Health Peter Anderson 4 July 1986 21 March 1988 1 year, 265 days Minister for Health Peter Collins Liberal Greiner (1) 25 March 1988 6 June 1991 3 years, 73 days Minister for Health and Community Services John Hannaford Greiner (2) Fahey (1) 6 June 1991 24 June 1992 1 year, 18 days Minister for Health Ron Phillips Fahey (2) (3) 24 June 1992 4 April 1995 2 years, 284 days Andrew Refshauge Labor Carr (1) (2) 4 April 1995 8 April 1999 4 years, 4 days Craig Knowles Carr (3) 8 April 1999 2 April 2003 3 years, 359 days Morris Iemma Carr (4) 2 April 2003 3 August 2005 2 years, 123 days John Hatzistergos Iemma (1) 3 August 2005 2 April 2007 1 year, 242 days Reba Meagher Iemma (2) 2 April 2007 5 September 2008 1 year, 156 days John Della Bosca Rees 5 September 2008 1 September 2009 361 days John Hatzistergos 1 September 2009 14 September 2009 13 days Carmel Tebbutt Rees Keneally 14 September 2009 28 March 2011 1 year, 226 days Jillian Skinner Liberal O'Farrell Baird (1) (2) 3 April 2011 30 January 2017 5 years, 302 days Brad Hazzard Berejiklian (1) 30 January 2017 23 March 2019 6 years, 57 days Minister for Health and Medical Research Berejiklian (2) Perrottet (1) 2 April 2019 21 December 2021 Minister for Health Perrottet (2) 21 December 2021 28 March 2023 [ 3] Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park Labor Minns 28 March 2023 5 April 2023 1 year, 357 days Minister for Health 5 April 2023 incumbent
Mental health Assistant ministers Title Minister [ 4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Cherie Burton Labor Iemma (1) 10 August 2005 2 April 2007 year, 235 days [ 17] Paul Lynch Iemma (2) 2 April 2007 5 September 2008 year, 156 days [ 18] Barbara Perry Rees 8 September 2008 14 September 2009 years, 201 days [ 19] Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health and Cancer) 14 September 2009 8 December 2009 Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Keneally 8 December 2009 28 March 2011
Regional health The following individuals have served as Minister for regional health, or any precedent titles:
Title Minister [ 4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor National Perrottet (2) 21 December 2021 28 March 2023 year, 97 days [ 20] Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park Labor Minns 28 March 2023 5 April 2023 year, 357 daysMinister for Regional Health 5 April 2023 incumbent
Hospitals Title Minister [ 4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes Minister for Hospital Management Ron Phillips Liberal Greiner (2) 6 June 1991 26 June 1991 20 days Minister for Health Services Management Fahey (1) 26 June 1991 24 June 1992 364 days
Healthy lifestyles Title Minister [ 4] Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes Minister for Healthy Lifestyles Kevin Humphries National O'Farrell 3 April 2011 17 April 2014 3 years, 14 days
Notes 1 2 Concurrently held the Health portfolio. This page is based on this
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