A spokesperson for Health Minister Mark Butler says stakeholders should contact the Department of Health and Aged Care if they want an extension in the two-week consultation process for Australia's new five-year National Immunisation Strategy.
The new strategy was developed based on an internal review by the Department of Health and Aged Care (department) and consultation with a limited number of unidentified stakeholders.
The department has not answered questions about the identity of the consulted stakeholders. The two-week online consultation process, which was not announced, concerns one of Australia's most critical public health strategies.
Better Access Australia has written to Minister Butler, calling for intervention to address the shortcomings of the consultation process.
Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston said, "This Government has a concerning track record of failing to undertake proper consultation.
"Policies must be made with the people who will most be impacted at the table, particularly patients and patient representatives.
"It is extremely concerning that stakeholders were not provided notice of this consultation process and have not been given adequate opportunity to have their say."
