Royal Commission on Health
Royal Commission on health · Royal Commission on National Health · Royal Commission on Public Health
7 January 1925 – 9 December 1925
A commission of medical men and a State legislator, chaired by Sir George Syme, that inquired into public health as a matter for Commonwealth legislation and administration in conjunction with the States.
How it came into existence
Appointed by Letters Patent dated 7 January 1925 by the Bruce government, largely at the urging of the Director-General of Health, J. H. L. Cumpston. Sir George Syme was chairman; the other commissioners included Dr F. S. Hone, Dr R. H. Todd and the Hon. S. R. Innes-Noad MLC. Its terms covered co-ordination of Commonwealth health services, Commonwealth–State co-operation, prevention of disease (including venereal disease), uniform food and drug legislation, maternity hygiene and child welfare, industrial hygiene, research, and relations between health authorities and medical practitioners.
How it ended
It submitted its report on 9 December 1925, ending the commission; the report was presented to Parliament on 14 January 1926. A conference of Commonwealth and State health ministers in July 1926 accepted its recommendations generally, and the Federal Health Council it proposed was constituted in November 1926.
Main functions
- Distribution of health responsibilities between Commonwealth, States and local authorities
- Prevention of disease, including venereal disease
- Uniform control of food and drugs
- Maternity hygiene, child welfare and industrial hygiene
- Medical research
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Health.
Lineage
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