Michael Wooldridge
Encyclopedia
Michael Richard Lewis Wooldridge (born 7 November 1956) is an Australian doctor, company director, and a former politician. He was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives
for the Liberal Party
representing the Division of Chisholm
, Victoria, between 1987 and 1996, and representing the Division of Casey
, Victoria, between 1998 and 2001.
He was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from March 1993 to May 1994.
before attending Monash University
's medical school
, from where he graduated in 1981. He later qualified as a nephrologist with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
.
called a spill for both the leader's and deputy's positions. Hewson lost to Alexander Downer
while Wooldridge withdrew at the last minute as it became clear he did not have the numbers to beat Downer's running mate Peter Costello
.
Wooldridge's demise as deputy leader came as a result of an opinion poll that showed only 4% of voters prefer him as Liberal leader despite Wooldridge himself stating no desire to become leader. In response to this poll Wooldridge argued on the 7.30 Report that 4% was a good result for a deputy leader as the deputy leader was not meant to be an alternative leader. Ironically the man who would replace Wooldridge as deputy leader, Peter Costello not only did not succeed in his ambitions to become leader but also became the party's longest serving deputy leader.
In 1996 the Liberal and National
Parties were elected to Government and Wooldridge served as Minister for Health and Family Services from 1996 to 1998 and Minister for Health and Aged Care
from 1998 up to his retirement in 2001. During this time he instituted significant and widespread changes to general practice. By setting up and responding to the report: "General Practice, Responding to the Future With Partnerships", he commenced a reform process that cemented the divisions of general practice as change agents, took responsibility for training GPs away from the RACGP and into the hands of an independent body (General Practice Education and Training), and instituted the Practice Incentives Program. He was forced to make a public apology to the President of the Australian Medical Association
at the time, Kerryn Phelps
in 2001 for publicly claiming she had no medical qualifications. During Woolridge's term as Health Minister, he was criticised for having close links with multinational drug company, Pfizer
that impacted the independence of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Wooldridge was also criticised for appointing Pat Clear, a former executive of Glaxo-Wellcome Australia
who had recently retired as head of the Medicines Australia (then known as the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association) to the committee of the PBAC, prompting the immediate resignation of the Chair of the committee, Don Bikkett, and leading to the refusal of five of the other committee members to be reappointed
was prematurely terminated due to allegations from the Australian Medical Association
and the Federal Opposition that his involvement in the allocation of the $5,000,000 represented a conflict of interest In 2006, Wooldrige was appointed 'Lead Independent Director' of the ASX listed Australian Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited
. In September 2009, Wooldrige was invited to join a panel hosted by CSL Limited
"a major manufacturer [of flu vaccine] in a US$2 billion influenza industry" hosted by the company to dispel myths about swine flu vaccination
Wooldridge has served or is currently serving on the Boards of Resonance Health Ltd, Dia-b Tech Limited (resigned in 2009, company since de-listed) and a Director of CogState Ltd. Dr. Wooldridge is currently Chairman of Neurosciences Australia, Healthsource Australia (Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis), the CRC for Mental Health and the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre. He is also Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne
.
Wooldridge also serves on the board of the anti-wind energy activism organisation, The Waubra Foundation, along with other prominent anti-wind energy activists, including Sarah Laurie, Peter Mitchell. and Kathy Russell. The Waubra Foundation promotes the view that wind turbines cause ill health.
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
representing the Division of Chisholm
Division of Chisholm
The Division of Chisholm is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Caroline Chisholm, a social worker and promoter of women's immigration. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne...
, Victoria, between 1987 and 1996, and representing the Division of Casey
Division of Casey
The Division of Casey is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1969 and is named for Richard Casey, who was Governor-General of Australia 1965-69. It is located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne and includes the suburbs of Croydon, Montrose and Olinda...
, Victoria, between 1998 and 2001.
He was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from March 1993 to May 1994.
Early years
Wooldridge attended Scotch College, MelbourneScotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
before attending Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
's medical school
Monash University Faculty of Medicine
The Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is one of Australia's leading medical schools, and offers the broadest range of undergraduate and postgraduate medicine-related programs of any Australian university...
, from where he graduated in 1981. He later qualified as a nephrologist with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Royal Australasian College of Physicians
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, or RACP, is the organisation responsible for training, educating, and representing over 9,000 physicians and paediatricians in Australia and New Zealand. It was founded in 1938....
.
Federal political career
During his time in Opposition he was Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and therefore the Deputy Leader of the Opposition from March 1993 to May 1994. In May 1994 Liberal Leader John HewsonJohn Hewson
John Robert Hewson AM is an Australian economist, company director and a former politician. He was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1990 to 1994 and led the party to defeat at the 1993 federal election.-Early life:...
called a spill for both the leader's and deputy's positions. Hewson lost to Alexander Downer
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...
while Wooldridge withdrew at the last minute as it became clear he did not have the numbers to beat Downer's running mate Peter Costello
Peter Costello
Peter Howard Costello AC is an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history. Costello was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009, representing...
.
Wooldridge's demise as deputy leader came as a result of an opinion poll that showed only 4% of voters prefer him as Liberal leader despite Wooldridge himself stating no desire to become leader. In response to this poll Wooldridge argued on the 7.30 Report that 4% was a good result for a deputy leader as the deputy leader was not meant to be an alternative leader. Ironically the man who would replace Wooldridge as deputy leader, Peter Costello not only did not succeed in his ambitions to become leader but also became the party's longest serving deputy leader.
In 1996 the Liberal and National
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
Parties were elected to Government and Wooldridge served as Minister for Health and Family Services from 1996 to 1998 and Minister for Health and Aged Care
Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
from 1998 up to his retirement in 2001. During this time he instituted significant and widespread changes to general practice. By setting up and responding to the report: "General Practice, Responding to the Future With Partnerships", he commenced a reform process that cemented the divisions of general practice as change agents, took responsibility for training GPs away from the RACGP and into the hands of an independent body (General Practice Education and Training), and instituted the Practice Incentives Program. He was forced to make a public apology to the President of the Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
at the time, Kerryn Phelps
Kerryn Phelps
Kerryn Lyndel Phelps AM is an Australian medical practitioner and public commentator. She is current President of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health at the University of Sydney...
in 2001 for publicly claiming she had no medical qualifications. During Woolridge's term as Health Minister, he was criticised for having close links with multinational drug company, Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
that impacted the independence of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Wooldridge was also criticised for appointing Pat Clear, a former executive of Glaxo-Wellcome Australia
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
who had recently retired as head of the Medicines Australia (then known as the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association) to the committee of the PBAC, prompting the immediate resignation of the Chair of the committee, Don Bikkett, and leading to the refusal of five of the other committee members to be reappointed
Career after Federal politics
In 2003, Wooldridge's credibility was brought into further doubt when his contract with The Royal Australian College of General PractitionersRoyal Australian College of General Practitioners
The Royal Australian College Of General Practitioners is the professional body for General Practitioners in Australia.The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian...
was prematurely terminated due to allegations from the Australian Medical Association
Australian Medical Association
The Australian Medical Association is a professional association for Australian doctors and medical students.The AMA uses a representative structure involving state branches and committees to work with members to promote and protect the interests of doctors.The mechanisms that allow this include:*...
and the Federal Opposition that his involvement in the allocation of the $5,000,000 represented a conflict of interest In 2006, Wooldrige was appointed 'Lead Independent Director' of the ASX listed Australian Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries
Australian Pharmaceutical Industries is a health and beauty company in Australia that is involved in pharmaceutical distribution, retailing and manufacturing. API is Australia’s largest wholesale distributor of pharmaceutical and allied products . The company is involved in retailing through...
. In September 2009, Wooldrige was invited to join a panel hosted by CSL Limited
CSL Limited
CSL Limited is a global specialty biopharmaceutical company that researches, develops, manufactures and markets products to treat and prevent serious human medical conditions...
"a major manufacturer [of flu vaccine] in a US$2 billion influenza industry" hosted by the company to dispel myths about swine flu vaccination
Wooldridge has served or is currently serving on the Boards of Resonance Health Ltd, Dia-b Tech Limited (resigned in 2009, company since de-listed) and a Director of CogState Ltd. Dr. Wooldridge is currently Chairman of Neurosciences Australia, Healthsource Australia (Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis), the CRC for Mental Health and the Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre. He is also Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
.
Wooldridge also serves on the board of the anti-wind energy activism organisation, The Waubra Foundation, along with other prominent anti-wind energy activists, including Sarah Laurie, Peter Mitchell. and Kathy Russell. The Waubra Foundation promotes the view that wind turbines cause ill health.