HWA Board - The Hon James McGinty

Mr McGinty was appointed as inaugural Chair of the Board of HWA in February 2010. Mr McGinty brings significant skills and experience to this role, drawing on his 19-year term as Member for Fremantle in the Western Australian State Parliament, in which he held the positions of Minister for Health (2003–08), Attorney-General (2001–08) and Leader of the Opposition (1994–96). As Health Minister, Mr McGinty was responsible for developing and implementing a health reform plan which is seeing substantial rebuilding of tertiary and regional hospitals, including the flagship Fiona Stanley Hospital and new children’s hospital; major public health initiatives against smoking and junk food; a significant shift in funding and service emphasis toward ambulatory and primary health care, including mental health. As Western Australia’s Attorney-General, Mr McGinty is recognised for his contribution to law reform - creating new legal institutions and modernising the law to reflect 21st century standards and values. Mr McGinty is also on the Boards of Telethon Institute for Child Health Research and Australian General Practice Network. He is a volunteer with Fremantle Sea Rescue.