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SUSSAN Ley has completed a meteoric rise from crunching tax returns in the old woolstore building in Albury to overseeing one of the biggest budgets in Canberra.
The Farrer MP will be sworn in today as the Health and Sport Minister with an annual budget of $47 billion and the biggest responsibility of her 13-year parliamentary career.
Her portfolio budget ranks alongside defence and social services as one of the largest in the federal government with Ms Ley’s additional responsibilities earning her a pay rise of close to $30,000.
Government documents reveal she will earn almost $340,000 each year.
The health and sport portfolio was created when the Coalition government came to power in September last year.
It had been overseen by Peter Dutton before he was switched to immigration and border protection in the changes unveiled by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Sunday.
Senator Fiona Nash retains the assistant minister for health role and Ms Ley’s former assistant minister for education position has gone to Senator Simon Birmingham.
Ms Ley said she would reserve any comment on her new portfolio areas until after she was officially in the position and had been fully briefed.
“It’s not really appropriate for me to talk about current or future health policy, not the least reason for this is I haven’t even been sworn into the position,” she said.
“I will no doubt receive briefings from the outgoing minister and good friend of mine, in Peter Dutton, along with the assistant minister Fiona Nash who shares my interest and passion for developing and improving health outcomes in rural and regional Australia.”
A $5 million cardiac lab is on the way to Albury Wodonga Health after the Coalition promised the funding if elected last September.
The $65 million cancer centre is due to be completed late next year, with Ms Ley a leading contender to officially open the facility in her role as federal Health Minister.
AWH chairman Lou Lieberman last night congratulated Ms Ley on her promotion.
“She has a tremendous knowledge of regional and rural affairs,” he said.
“Health is one of the most complex and challenging portfolios, but someone from her background is equipped very well.
“She has a great insight into border issues as well.
“But she has got to serve the whole of Australia even though we know we will get a fair hearing from her.”
AWH is the first cross-border health system created in Australia, starting in 2001.