Chief Medical Officer (Australia)

Principal health advisor to the government of Australia

The Chief Medical Officer is the principal health advisor to the Australian government. The position is a medical appointment, reporting to the Departmental secretary for the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.[1] The position is responsible for the Office of Health Protection which itself has responsibility for biosecurity, immunisation and disease surveillance. The position is also responsible for "maintaining high-quality relationships between the department, the medical profession, medical colleges, universities and other key stakeholders". Other responsibilities of the position vary according to the skills and background of the officeholder.[1] The position was created in November 1982 because the newly appointed Director-General of Health was not a doctor.[2] The position is an advisory in nature and does not have executive or operational authority.[3]

As of 1 June 2025[update], the Chief Medical Officer is Professor Michael Kidd,[4] who succeeded Tony Lawler.

As of 23 January 2021[update], the joint Deputy Chief Medical Officers were Nick Coatsworth, Ruth Vine and Michael Kidd.[5] In May 2020, psychiatrist Ruth Vine was appointed the first Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health.[6]

Previous officers include John Horvath in 2003,[7] Jim Bishop in 2009,[8][9] and Chris Baggoley from August 2011[10] until 2016. The role has recently been focused on immigration and related health issues, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The position is head of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee[11] and in that role an adviser to the National Cabinet of Australia, created in response to the pandemic.[12]

In June 2024, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth admitted he had not had a COVID vaccine for two years and stated he would not be getting any more vaccinations for the virus.[13]

## Annual reports

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Separate printed reports from the officer were available before 2003; after that time they became incorporated into the departmental reports.[14][15]

## List of Chief Medical Officers

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* David de Souza (1983–1988)[16][17]
* Tony Adams (1988–1997)[17]
* Judith Whitworth (1997–1999)
* Richard Smallwood (1999–2003)
* John Horvath (2003–2009)
* Jim Bishop (2009–2011)
* Chris Baggoley (2011–2016)
* Brendan Murphy (2016–2020)
* Paul Kelly (2020–2024)[18]
* Tony Lawler (2024–2025)
* Michael Kidd (2025–present) [19]

## Related roles and terminology

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### States and territories

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Most of the principal health advisors in each state and territory bear the title Chief Health Officer (CHO), apart from South Australia (Chief Public Health Officer) and Tasmania (Chief Medical Officer). During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the state CHOs became prominent as advisors regarding the state responses, and in particular closure of state borders.[20] The CMOs/CHOs are part of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee which advises the National Cabinet on health matters, which has been particularly important during the pandemic.[21]

As of 2025[update], the principal health advisors in each state and territory are:[20]

* Australian Capital Territory: Kerryn Coleman, CHO[22][23]
* New South Wales: Kerry Chant, CHO
* Northern Territory: Dr Christine Connors, CHO[24][25]
* Queensland: Dr Heidi Carroll, CHO[26]
* South Australia: Nicola Spurrier, Chief Public Health Officer
* Tasmania: Dr Dinesh Arya, Chief Medical Officer [27]
* Victoria: Clare Looker, CHO[28]
* Western Australia: Andrew Robertson, CHO

### In sport

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Many of the major professional sports bodies in Australia, including the Australian Institute of Sport, appoint a Chief Medical Officer, usually a sport and exercise medicine physician, to advise on medical matters.[29][30]

## References

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1. ^ a b Schulz, Amber (16 April 2020). "The man behind the eyebrows: just who is Brendan Murphy?". Crikey. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
2. ^ Carlton, Jim (23 November 1982). "Top management changes in the Department of Health" (PDF). parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
3. ^ Brew, Nigel; Burton, Kate (16 November 2004). "Australia's capacity to respond to an infectious disease outbreak". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2020. "The CMO does not have an executive or operational role in relation to managing health issues, and contrary to how the role is sometimes understood, the Office does not appear to be entirely independent from the Commonwealth Government."
4. ^ "Chief Medical Officer". Department of Health and Aged Care. Australian Government. 1 June 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
5. ^ "Our medical experts : Department of Health News and Alerts". Australian Government Department of Health. 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020.
6. ^ New deputy chief medical officer for medical health (audio and text), Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (ABC Radio National, RN Breakfast), 19 May 2020, retrieved 12 June 2020
7. ^ Halton, Jane (28 July 2003), Renal expert named new Chief Medical Officer for Australia, retrieved 12 June 2020
8. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation. News (28 August 2009), Chief Medical Officer says problems will be solved, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 12 June 2020
9. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Radio National (17 March 2011), Australia's Chief Medical Officer on Japan radiation risk, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 13 June 2020
10. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation. News (30 August 2011), Chief medical officer takes exception to avian flu warning, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, retrieved 12 June 2020
11. ^ McCauley, Dana (6 March 2020). "There's a reason Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy looks so tired". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
12. ^ Grattan, Michelle (7 April 2020). "Scott Morrison indicates 'eliminating' COVID-19 would come at too high a cost". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
13. ^ "Major apology millions of Aussies deserve. Mounting evidence shows the vaccines were rushed, less effective than you’d expect of a jab and – in some cases – dangerous", news.com.au. Accessed 15 June 2024.
14. ^ Australia. Chief Medical Officer (1998), Chief Medical Officer's report [1997-98], The Dept, retrieved 13 June 2020
15. ^ Australia. Department of Health and Aged Care (1998), Chief Medical Officer's report, The Department, retrieved 13 June 2020
16. ^ "Health". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 21 April 1983. p. 2121. Retrieved 15 June 2020 – via Trove.
17. ^ a b "History of the Department". The Department of Health. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
18. ^ "Professor Paul Kelly appointed as Australia's new Chief Medical Officer | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
19. ^ "Department of Health and Aged Care Statement: Professor Michael Kidd AO, MBBS, MD, FAHMS, FRACGP has been appointed as Australia's new Chief Medical Officer from 1 June 2025". Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
20. ^ a b Farhart, Claudia (19 April 2020). "Who are the experts behind Australia's coronavirus response?". SBS News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
21. ^ Aubusson, Kate; Mannix, Liam (27 November 2020). "Good Weekend's 40 Australians Who Mattered: Health and Science". The Sydney Morning Herald.
22. ^ Kanapathippillai, Julia; Jervis-Bardy, Dan (3 August 2020). "Canberra coronavirus preparation: chief health officer says to be prepared, but don't stockpile". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
23. ^ Hunt, Toby (5 July 2020). "ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
24. ^ "Updates". Coronavirus (COVID-19). Retrieved 23 November 2020.
25. ^ "Members of the NHMRC Council, 2015-2018 triennium". NHMRC. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
26. ^ Layt, Stuart (22 November 2021). "John Gerrard announced as new Queensland Chief Health Officer as jab push continues". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
27. ^ Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health (14 January 2021). "COVID-19 update". Tasmanian Government. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
28. ^ "About the Chief Health Officer". health.vic.gov.au. Department of Health (Victoria). 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
29. ^ "Ask The Expert: Getting back to sport". dailytelegraph. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
30. ^ Anderson, Emma (21 June 2017). "Dr Carolyn Broderick appointed Chief Medical Officer". Tennis Australia. Retrieved 23 November 2020.

## External links

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* Chief Medical Officer – Department of Health, Disability and Ageing