“The Liberal Leader has controversially expanded his shadow health portfolio to include men’s health, while at the same time appointing his colleague, Leanne Castley, to focus on women’s health,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE. 

In an early foray into policy development since Mark Parton became the Opposition Leader, the Canberra Liberals have found the Labor government wanting and have thrown down the gauntlet to the Greens. 

Their approach to men’s health shows that they have been listening to the swinging voters in the electorate.

Parton has identified an important area of health policy that has been largely ignored by the Labor government in the ACT. 

The Liberal Leader has controversially expanded his shadow health portfolio to include men’s health, while at the same time appointing his colleague, Leanne Castley, to focus on women’s health.

He then followed this action up by announcing his intention to consult on and then introduce legislation that will enforce an holistic view on suicide prevention.

This is pertinent as the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s recent estimates are that “the male suicide rate has fluctuated around three to four times that of the female rate”. 

“This cannot be tackled in silos” argued Parton, “it requires leadership and co-ordination. This legislation ensures suicide prevention is treated with the urgency it deserves.”

Although a focus on men’s health is way overdue, the Greens are in apoplexy about the policy and using it as an opportunity to distance themselves from the Liberals.

Discussions earlier in the year between then Greens leader Shane Rattenbury and Parton had the hardliners in both parties threatening retaliation if the two worked together.

The days of saying there is health and there is women’s health are behind us. It did make sense many decades ago when most of health research and policy was based on men’s health. At the time it was important to focus on women’s health in order to establish a balanced approach.

This new portfolio, according to Parton, is a recognition that many men and boys feel ignored and left behind. 

He explained: “I’ve been nine years in this place, and I’ve been contacted by so many men who feel that they’re not being listened to, who feel that the conversation has shifted to this point where they are almost always considered to be the problem”.

Taking a preventive approach, Parton wants a way forward that supports fatherhood, strengthens family connections, improves men’s engagement in education, expands pathways into jobs, addresses justice system interactions and builds strong and more connected communities through social cohesion.

The Greens have reacted as expected. Laura Nuttall has slammed the Liberals for taking a “binary approach to health” in as far as the Liberals have only addressed men’s and women’s health. 

It is not true, of course. Parton remains shadow minister for health. As such, he does address the complex issues that impact on LGBTIQA+ people although not singling out each of the groups in this policy. 

The Greens argue that “to only list domestic, family and sexual violence as a women’s issue also omits the experience of male victims. 

“A genuine response to these forms of violence looks at support for victims and behaviour change for perpetrators.” 

True. However, a sensible preventive health process focused on men addresses the root causes of violence. 

In clarifying, the Greens fed into the Liberals’ policy stating: “We need to both set up and fund men’s behaviour change programs and women’s safety programs – not one or the other”. 

My reading of the Liberal policy intention suggests this is a fundamental part of the aim.

Appointing Castley to ensure women’s health issues remain high on the agenda, Parton pointed out: “These portfolios recognise that while many issues are shared, men and women often experience different pathways and barriers across health, safety, economic participation, and social connection 

“A dedicated focus will ensure that policy responses are practical, inclusive, and outcomes-driven.”

Preventive health is complex as is ensuring treatment is appropriate for different groups in the society. This policy announcement by the Liberals takes a sensible step towards a more inclusive health policy. It does not fall into the trap of attempting to swing all the efforts towards men’s health. 

However, it does recognise that an important gap in preventive health does need to be addressed and takes the first steps in addressing those issues.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with CityNews since 2006.