Why GPs should say thank you to Sussan Ley

COMMENT: Some people might suggest federal health ministers are a waste of time. Here's one argument in their defence.

Do we actually need a federal Minister for Health?

It’s a brutal question but given the merry-go-round of reform without any reform and spectacular disasters like Peter Dutton, it is worth asking whether those pollies responsible for an $80 billion portfolio do anything good for the nation’s health.

But if there’s one case study that can be used in defence of their future employment, it’s probably Sussan Ley.

Yes, her tenure ended under a dark cloud — accused of wasting taxpayer dosh on private flights between capital cities, and admitting to misusing her ministerial travel concessions to drive around the Gold Coast looking for investment properties.