BiographyGreg Hunt MP

HONOURABLE GREG HUNT

Professor Hunt was appointed Honorary Enterprise Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Services and the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne in December 2022.  Greg is also the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Council for the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University. He advises a wide range of businesses and not for profits in the areas of innovation, leadership, strategic planning, health and the environment.

Greg is a highly experienced former Cabinet Minister in the Australian Government, having served as Australia’s Minister for the Environment, Innovation and Health across three major portfolios over almost nine years.

As Minister for Health from 2017 to 2022, he oversaw Australia’s response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, established telehealth as a permanent and universal centrepiece of Medicare, reformed private health and established long-term plans for mental health, aged care, medical research and primary care and listed over 2,000 new and amended medicines for public access.

He oversaw an annual budget of $132 billion, 17 portfolio agencies and 7,000 staff.

As Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science, he laid the foundation for the Australian Space Agency.

As Minister for the Environment, he established the Emissions Reduction Fund, the Green Army, the $1 billion Reef Trust and helped lead Australia’s negotiations for the Montreal Protocol update and Paris Climate Change Accord. For his work as Environment Minister, Greg was named Best Minister in the World at the World Government Summit in 2016.

As the longest serving Federal Member for Flinders (over 20 years), he is a nationally and internationally experienced legislator, negotiator, strategic thinker, stakeholder manager and administrator.

Greg was elected as the Federal Member for Flinders in 2001 and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs as a young Member of Parliament in the Howard Government. He was Shadow Minister for the Environment from 2007-2013.

Prior to Parliament, Greg worked with Mallesons Stephen Jacques before becoming Associate to the Chief Justice of the Federal Court.

Between 1994 and 1998, Greg worked as a Senior Adviser to the then Opposition Leader and subsequent Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer. He then headed Australia’s electoral mission to Cambodia in 1998.

Greg then worked with McKinsey & Co for almost three years, during which time he became an Engagement Manager and specialised in telecommunications, start-ups, government reform and the banking sector.

Greg is a Fulbright Scholar with a Masters from Yale University and First Class Honours in Law from the University of Melbourne. He has given over 10,000 speeches and interviews at local, national and international level and was runner up at the 1990 World Debating Championships, as well as Australian Universities Debating Captain.

Greg has completed seven marathons and five 500km walks for charity.

He lives on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula with his wife Paula and two children, 91 year old Italian Nonna and cavoodle Charlie.

 

PARLIAMENTARY & CABINET EXPERIENCE

Minister for Health, Australian Government

2017 – 2022

  • Oversaw Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping Australia have one of the highest vaccination rates, lowest death rates and the strongest economic recoveries in the world.
  • Established Australia’s Long-Term National Health Plan.
  • Established Telehealth as the largest change in Medicare since its formation (with over 100 million consultations as at May 2022)
  • Established the COVID Private Hospitals Partnership to protect the viability of Australia’s private hospital sector.
  • Listed over 2,000 new and amended medicines for public access.
  • Established the ten-year, $6.3 billion Medical Research Future Fund Plan, including the National Genomics & Stem Cell Missions and $600 million Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases Clinical Trials Program.
  • Established the $1.7 billion 10 Year Primary Care and Rural Health Strategy, including formation of the Murray Darling Basin Medical School Network.
  • Concluded major agreements with state governments for both mental health and hospital reform and funding, the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Pharmacy Guild, Medicines Australia, the Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Association and the Medical Technology Association of Australia.
  • Established the National Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Plan, including the formation of the Head to Health network of adult and children’s mental health centres and expansion of headspace.
  • Oversaw an annual portfolio budget of $132 billion annually, 17 portfolio agencies and over 7,000 staff.

Minister for Aged Care

2020 – 2022

  • Established the five year $18.8 billion national aged care plan to reform home care and residential care.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Cabinet

2019 – 2020

  • Oversaw preparation of the public service for operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Sport

2017

  • Established Sport Integrity Australia to oversee anti-doping, integrity and protection against abuse in Australian sport.

Minister for Industry, Innovation & Science, Australian Government

2016 – 2017

  • Laid the foundation for the Australian Space Agency.
  • Established the long-term strategic plan for CSIRO sustainability and commercialisation.

Minister for the Environment, Australian Government

2013 – 2016

  • Established Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund and reverse auction scheme.
  • Developed the Great Barrier Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan.
  • Introduced the $1 billion Reef Fund.
  • Secured Australia’s Antarctic icebreaker and 20 Year Strategy.
  • Established the Threatened Species Commissioner.
  • Established the Green Army.
  • Oversaw completion of the Murray Darling Basin Agreement water recover plan.
  • Banned dredge disposal in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and had the Reef’s World Heritage Status restored.
  • Helped lead Australia’s negotiations for the Montreal Protocol update on ozone protection and the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Member of Cabinet

2013 – 2022

  • Member of the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet
    2019 – 2021
  • Member of the Prime Minister’s Leadership Group
    2019 – 2022

Shadow Minister for the Environment

2007 – 2013

  • Designed the Coalition’s climate and environment policy and Emissions Reduction Scheme.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs

2007

  • Included responsibility for consular cases and assisting in international climate negotiations.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment and Heritage

2004 – 2007

  • Oversaw Parks Australia and assisted in the development of climate policy.

Federal Member for Flinders, Parliament of Australia

2001 – 2022

  • Represented the community of the Federal Electorate of Flinders incorporating the Mornington Peninsula, located south-east of the Melbourne CBD.
  • Completed five 500km walks around the electorate – in 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015 & 2018 – to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
  • Helped establish the Somerville Secondary College and Balcombe Grammar
  • Helped establish the Mornington Comprehensive Cancer Centre, headspace on the Mornington Peninsula and the National Centre for Ageing Well.
  • Helped protect Point Nepean, Gunnamatta Beach and establish the National Centre for Coasts and Climate.
  • Longest serving Member for Flinders since Federation.

 

POST-PARLIAMENTARY EXPERIENCE

2023 | Honorary Enterprise Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne.

2022 | Chair of the Advisory Council Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University

2023 |Commercial and advisory roles to businesses and not for profits in the areas of innovation, leadership, strategic planning, health and the environment.

 

PRE-PARLIAMENTARY EXPERIENCE

2000-2001 | Director of Global Strategy – World Economic Forum, Geneva

  • Responsible for the development of global strategy for the WEF, working directly to the CEO.

 1999-2001 | Engagement Manager – McKinsey & Co

  • Provided specialist advice in telecommunications, start-ups, government reform and the banking sector.

 1998 – 2001 | Senior Fellow – Centre for Comparative Constitutional Law, University of Melbourne

  • Researched models for Australia’s constitutional convention.

 1998 | Chief – Australian Electoral Observer Mission to Cambodia

  • Led Australia’s Electoral Observer Mission to Cambodia.
  • Represented Australia on the Joint International Observer Group (JIOG) and was appointed Drafting Secretary to the JIOG.

1996 – 1998 | Senior Adviser – Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs

  • Responsible for overall policy co-ordination.
  • Provided advice on political, international law, and human rights issues, management of staff and portfolio budget matters, and co-ordination of media strategy.
  • Senior Adviser on South-East Asia and international organisations

1995 – 1996 | Senior Adviser – Australian Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

  • Provided advice on political, legal and foreign affairs issues.

1994 – 1995 | Legal Adviser – Australian Leader of the Opposition

  • Provided advice on political, legal and foreign affairs issues.

1993 | United Nations Centre for Human Rights, Geneva

  • Assisted in chronicling human rights abuses in the Former Yugoslavia and in preparation of reports to the Security Council by the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Former Yugoslavia.

1993 | Assistant Lecturer – Schell Centre for Human Rights, Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut

  • Assistant Lecturer to Professor Drew Days, subsequently Solicitor General of the United States, in the subject of International Human Rights Law.

1992 | Schell Centre of Human Rights, Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut

  • Conducted research and made recommendations as part of a policy unit assisting the United Nations’ Special Representative for Internally Displaced Persons to report on the international legal status of internal refugees.

1992 | Associate – Chief Justice, Federal Court of Australia

  • Principal legal assistant to His Honour Chief Justice Black.
  • Helped research, draft and edit judgements of the Full Federal Court and was responsible for setting down matters for Full Court hearings throughout Australia.

1991 – 1992 | Articled Clerk – Mallesons Stephen Jaques

  • Concentrated in litigation, environmental law and property law within one of Australia’s largest law firms.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts (International Relations)

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

1992-1994

  • Fulbright Scholar
  • Yale Fellowship
  • Schell Centre Human Rights Fellowship, 1993
  • Best Paper US Association of Professional Schools in International Affairs, 1993
  • Concentration in International Law, Organisations and Conflict Resolution

Bachelor of Laws

University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

1990

  • First Class Honours
  • Sir George Paton Prize for best final year thesis

Bachelor of Arts (International Relations)

University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

1990

  • Upper Second-Class Honours

Peninsula Grammar (1973-1983) & Mornington Primary School (1971-1972)

  • Scholarship Holder – 1976-1983

HONOURS & AWARDS

Inaugural Recipient – Best Minister in the World | World Government Summit| 2016

Global Finalist | Union for International Cancer Control’s Award for Outstanding Policy Makers | 2021

  • Other Finalists were President Joe Biden, USA and President Paul Kagame, Rwanda.

McKinnon Prize for Australian Political Leadership | 2021

Global Leader for Tomorrow Award | World Economic Forum | 2004

Holder of the Austrian Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash (Highest known ranking Australian) | 2022

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Australia-Asia Program Young Leader’s Delegation to South Korea | 1997

Captain, Australian Universities Debating Team | 1990

Runner-up, World Debating Championships | 1990

President, University of Melbourne Debating Society | 1988

Treasurer, Australasian Law Students Association | 1990-91

President, Ormond College Student Body, University of Melbourne | 1987

Intermediate French & Intermediate Hebrew

Extensive Travel in SE and NE Asia, Europe (by bicycle), Africa and the South Pacific

Admitted Barrister and Solicitor (1992), Supreme Court of Victoria (non-practicing)

Participated in and completed seven marathons and five 500km walks for charity