Minister for Health Brad Hazzard

If politics were like baseball, veteran politician, the Hon. Brad Hazzard is stepping into the health portfolio like a relief pitcher – it’s the bottom of the ninth, bases are loaded, with the Visitors one run away from smashing the Home team.

As the date draws closer to the June 2017 funding cliff, medical professionals are anxiously watching to see how Mr Hazzard will handle the Commonwealth’s changes to the health funding model, which is projected to cut $4.7 billion out of the budget allocated to public hospitals up to 2024-25.

Mr Hazzard, who was sworn in as NSW Health Minister in January 2017, told The NSW Doctor he was concerned about the health funding changes, but was speaking with other State and Territory Ministers to consider how they might work together.

“I’ve also had contact with the Federal Health Minister and I’m very confident that they might see their way clear to supporting the States in our endeavours to deliver better health for our communities,” he said.

And while both Ministers are relatively new to their respective portfolios, Mr Hazzard said his previous political encounters with his Federal counterpart, The Hon. Greg Hunt have been positive.

In terms of mitigating the impact from Federal funding shortfalls, Mr Hazzard suggested the sector needed to look for greater efficiencies.

“It’s a challenge for all of us in the health system to look at alternative paths to achieve the very best for the patients. I would certainly encourage the medical profession to look at their own practices with fresh eyes to see if there are other ways to achieve really good outcomes for the patients of NSW in a cost effective way,” he said.

How much the system can tighten in the face of increasing population demands however, will be the biggest challenge, Mr Hazzard admits.

“I’m a former Planning Minister as well as Attorney-General and I’m very aware that NSW is expecting another 2 million people in the next 25 years. Approximately 60-65% of those are our own children. So we have to cater for a very substantial increase in our population across different geographical demographics and somehow our health system has to become far more fleet of foot and adaptable to meet those challenges.”

At the time The NSW Doctor spoke with Mr Hazzard, the Minister was just one week into the job. In light of the challenges facing the health sector, he said his first priority was to listen and learn from medical professionals at the front line.

And what had he heard so far?

“Like all big systems, it has problems. To try and get that system working in a more connected way is a challenge, particularly because 7.5 million people live not just in the city but in the regions. The regional areas have some very big challenges and there are a variety of views as to what resources should or should not be allocated into regional areas. In an ideal world, from a patient’s point of view, we would have level five hospitals everywhere, but that is not a practical possibility.”

Minister Hazzard is no stranger to tough political portfolios. He comes to the Health Ministry after spending nearly two years as Minister for Family and Community Services, during which time he introduced sweeping changes in light of a number of scandals, including the alleged rape and drug overdose death of a teenager dubbed Girl X within the group foster home system.

Under a radical State Government plan to decrease the number of kids languishing in group homes, Minister Hazzard revealed natural parents would have two years to prove they could provide responsible care for their children, after which time agencies would remove the children from group homes and find permanent homes for children.

The move would dramatically increase the rate of adoptions and guardianships.

Mr Hazzard also served as Attorney General in 2014-15 and Minister for Planning and Instructure from 2011-14.

Much of his political career in the NSW Parliament has been served on the front bench. To date, he has held 17 portfolios in opposition, while maintaining a strong local presence in his electorate of Wakehurst.

A lifelong resident of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Mr Hazzard started his working career as a science teacher at North Sydney Boys High School.

While working as a teacher he studied Law at the University of NSW and later completed a Master of Laws at Sydney University. For a short period, Mr Hazzard considered a medical career, having been accepted into University of Newcastle’s medical program.

“They deferred my entry for 12 months because I had done science, and I was studying law when I actually got into medicine. At the time I decided having done two degrees it might be actually time to get a real job and do some work,” Mr Hazzard said.

Despite his career path forking into another direction, Mr Hazzard said his interest has never waned.

He’s a passionate advocate for mental health, adding that it’s an issue that’s been kept in the dark for too long.

“The other very substantial issue for our community is obesity,” he said.

“I think the fact that the AMA are prepared to lead the discussions on that is a major positive. Doctors, nurses and medical professionals are some of the most respected people in the community. We all look to those with medical expertise to give us guidance when we need it.”