Andrew Laming
Andrew is the federal Coalition spokesperson for Aboriginal Health and Regional Health Services, member for Bowman on Brisbane’s bayside and former Chair of the Coalition’s Backbench Economics Committee.
After graduating Medicine and Surgery (University of Queensland) in 1990, he worked in rural general practice for two years before volunteering as a landmine clearing medic in Afghanistan with the HALO Trust.
In 1995 he pioneered a breakthrough drug in the treatment of trachoma in the central desert community of Lajamanu with the Menzies School of Health Research.
After completing speciality training on Ophthalmology at Royal North Shore Hospital in 1999, he joined the World Bank Group in Health, Nutrition and Population, before being seconded to the East Timor Transitional Authority as a health planning specialist. He also worked as a Ministerial policy advisor and conducted major reviews of indigenous organisations for ATSIC and ATSIS.
He has Masters degrees in Public Health (Sydney), Public Policy (Charles Darwin) and Public Administration (Harvard).
Articles by Andrew Laming
Now there is another gap, between the city and the bush
Yesterday’s Prime Ministerial address to the nation on Closing the Gap with Aboriginal Australia showed just how complex this historic…... Read more
Labor needs to fight the black dog in the bush
Male suicide is two and a half times more likely in remote Queensland than in our cities. Last week Mental…... Read more
A detox is not going to drain the indigenous grog bog
Last week’s announcement of new minimum standards for alcohol in remote Indigenous Australia show that Jenny Macklin simply doesn’t get…... Read more
The risks of the bush health deficit are not so remote
About a third of our health suffering is self-induced; it’s what we eat, drink, smoke and how we exercise. The…... Read more
A peace-loving people crushed by corruption
It is Australia’s invisible northern neighbour. The Philippines are south-east Asia’s first democracy and only Christian nation. Most of us…... Read more
Ow! Labor’s dental plan has some serious holes
It was a week where both sides of politics trashed each other’s dental policies. But if you are sick with…... Read more
Fee fi fo fum. Opposing full-fee students is dumb
Buying your place in medical school. It evokes images of lazy rich kids displacing slaving battlers out of the noble…... Read more
Come on, come on, give me something for the pain
Love can free us from the pain of life, Sophocles argued. But people like Raylee and John would disagree. John…... Read more
Why the carbon tax is literally bad for your health
If you transferred millions from a public hospital budget to the Cayman Islands, it would be a national scandal. But…... Read more
ALP membership no longer a free pass on Indigenous land
“You’re not welcome on our land, Jenny Macklin.” The young female voice cut the air in Hobart’s Grand Chancellor ballroom…... Read more
Putting proper store in grassroots solutions
Update 10am: Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin’s office has provided The Punch with this statement: The Government has not cut…... Read more
We must keep chaplains in our schools to help our kids
Six years ago this week, Greg Hunt enlisted Louise Markus, David Fawcett and me to formulate the National School Chaplaincy…... Read more
Our record with stroke is really just a big joke
Cancer and heart disease each claim a third of all deaths Australia-wide. Of these two, it is cancer which has…... Read more
Assange is no hero but he deserves a fair trial
If you break the law overseas, don’t expect government to bail you out. Julian Assange hasn’t been charged under any…... Read more
Stop the welfare to start closing the gap
Another year; another Closing the Gap Prime Minister’s report. More statistical improvements at the margins but the core issues evaded…... Read more
Cross border health issues must be resolved
For three months Australia’s world-class health system refused to treat Thornlands’ Della Johnson who has a rare vascular disease of…... Read more
No guilt, no shame in rejecting this tax, Australia
Apologies in advance to those with fixed views on a carbon tax. It is time the majority of Australians had…... Read more
Unions abandon their members on carbon
In search of mates for their unloved climate tax, Labor phoned a friend and the ACTU answered on The Punch…... Read more
Doomsayers are doomed to be proven wrong
Global economics rarely moves as fast as it has over the last twelve months. Inflation genie, global financial crisis and…... Read more
Rudd’s internet nanny plan targets the wrong enemy
We all want our kids to be safe online. Parents can’t be expected to monitor every click and it’s understandable…... Read more
The Rudd-free account of how we dodged the downturn
Australia’s momentary brush with recession is over. After less than twelve months we are now leading the world out of…... Read more
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Recent posts
The latest and greatest
The Punch is moving house
Good morning Punchers. After four years of excellent fun and great conversation, this is the final post…
Will Pope Francis have the vision to tackle this?
I have had some close calls, one that involved what looked to me like an AK47 pointed my way, followed…
Advocating risk management is not “victim blaming”
In a world in which there are still people who subscribe to the vile notion that certain victims of sexual…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
Tim says:
They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go
Kel says:
If you want a festival for older people or for families alike, get amongst the respectable punters at Bluesfest. A truly amazing festival experience to be had of ALL AGES. And all the young "festivalgoers" usually write themselves off on the first night, only to never hear from them again the rest of… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
Superman needs saving
Can somebody please save Superman? He seems to be going through a bit of a crisis. Eighteen months ago,… Read more
