Dr Kerryn Phelps, AMA President - ABC 774 Radio 3LO

PHELPS: Good morning.

FAINE: Are you happy with the appointment?

PHELPS: I think I could say we're cautiously optimistic.

FAINE: It's a senior portfolio. Medical politics is a minefield, as you and Dr Wooldridge proved in what was the comings and goings of health politics in the last 12 months. How do you think Senator Patterson will fare?

PHELPS: Well, I think we're off to a very good start. I had a conversation with Senator Patterson on Friday, shortly after the announcement, and I think that we'll get … we'll certainly go into any discussions with Senator Patterson with a sense of goodwill and with a determination to do what needs to be done, which is improve the health of all Australians.

FAINE: One way of reading it, Dr Phelps, is that it's a downgrading of the health portfolio if it's given to someone without ministerial experience.

PHELPS: I don't think you can downgrade the health portfolio. It's a $29 billion dollar portfolio. It's one that is of incredible electoral importance. It's one of great importance to the Australian community.

FAINE: Then why not a more experienced person to run it?

PHELPS: Well, I think you'd have to ask that question of the Prime Minister, to be honest.

But, you know, I think … you know, it's fair to say that Senator Patterson does have extensive parliamentary experience and some experiences of the health sciences. And so we're prepared very much to give her the benefit of the doubt and to work with Senator Patterson in formulating health policy into the future.

FAINE: It won't be hard for you to have a better relationship with the new Health Minister than the one you had with the old minister.

PHELPS: No, it'd be a challenge, be a challenge to have a worse relationship. But I think that things did certainly improve after the Prime Minister's intervention and, of course, we always had a very good working relationship with the rest of government, because health crosses over into, you know, many other portfolios. And, I mean, just looking at the things that we did, for example, in changes to medical indemnity with Rod Kemp's office and the changes that we made in other areas--

FAINE: And just finally, Dr Phelps, will it be easier for you dealing with a minister who is of the same gender as you?

PHELPS: I don't think that's an issue. It's certainly not an issue for me at all. I think that it comes down to how well somebody communicates, how much they're prepared to listen, issues such as mutual respect and an interest in and a valuing of the health system.

FAINE: I wonder if it was a factor in the Prime Minister's decision-making. You are very high profile and it was often seen that Dr Wooldridge was coming across as a bit of a bully in his dealings with you, and if you have a woman who is the Minister, it takes away that perception.

PHELPS: Well, I think that really it comes down to the individuals and how much they're prepared to work with each other in an environment of mutual respect and understanding. And I think if you can establish that I think … I don't think it matters the slightest whether it's a male, female or something in between. I think what's really important is that you have that mutual respect. And we will certainly be starting out our discussions expecting that things will go well and that we will be able to communicate well, and that's the way I want to get started and certainly not anticipate anything else.

FAINE: Thanks for talking to us today. Dr Kerryn Phelps, Federal President of the AMA.

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