Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Siewert for her question. It is important that we raise the issue of men’s health. Men, unfortunately, do not live as long as women and they die at higher rates from coronary heart disease/vascular disease, suicide, traffic accidents and injury. Development of the first national men’s health policy for Australia is a significant step in improving the health of Australian men. We have appointed five men as health ambassadors who will be a focus point for awareness raising. They will help with our community forums and talk to men about men’s health issues. We will be appointing more. They will be from a range of professions because the aim is to have a cross-sample of Australian population capable of representing a wide range of men’s issues.

These ambassadors do not necessarily have expertise or specific knowledge of men’s health issues; rather, they will bring together other skills such as the ability to raise the public profile on this issue and their ability to talk to men about issues that affect men. The ambassadors are engaged on a voluntary basis and, aside from their travel accommodation and associated expenses, they will not be paid. The government will provide estimated expenses of around $250,000. These funds will be spent on getting ordinary men together to talk about men’s health. When we talk about the consultative process, we will have a look at all of those issues that you raised. I am not aware of the specific issues that you raised in respect of Mr Williams. However, as this government has made it clear, not everyone will necessarily share every view of every ambassador on every issue, but I will take those issues and examine those comments. (Time expired)