Association president, Dr Nola Maxfield, said although it assumed Ms Gillard believed rural, regional and Indigenous health would fall within the new Regional Australia and Regional Development portfolio of which Simon Crean will be minister, it was worried about losing the dedicated portfolio for Indigenous, rural and regional health after just one term of government.

“Indigenous, rural and regional health is in a state of continuing crisis, and as such it continues to need a dedicated portfolio under a specific minister,” she said.

“That minister must have the power to direct policies, funding and projects directly through the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, not another department.

“Any attempt to progress indigenous, rural and regional health policy through any federal department outside the Australian Department of Health and Ageing will be an uphill battle to say the least.”

She said the association was also disappointed that it would not have the opportunity to again work with Warren Snowdon on indigenous, rural and regional health issues within the second term of the federal Labor government.

“We are encouraged the portfolio of Regional Australia and Regional Development has been given to Simon Crean, a highly experienced federal politician and minister,” she said.

“We certainly look forward to working with him and the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, to progress indigenous and rural health issues within their portfolios.

“However, there is clearly an ongoing need for a dedicated portfolio for indigenous, rural and regional health within the federal Labor government, and we implore Prime Minister Gillard to reinstate it urgently.”