Australia's former indigenous health minister is concerned Prime Minister Tony Abbott has not retained the position in his ministry and warned it may affect progress on closing the gap.
Northern Territory Labor MP Warren Snowdon, who was the first indigenous health minister from 2009 until Labor lost power, is concerned about whether Aboriginal health is actually a priority for the incoming government.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has flagged he will move indigenous affairs under the umbrella of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C).
But in administrative arrangements released on Wednesday there is no specific reference to indigenous health in either PM&C, the department of health or ministerial responsibilities.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Abbott told AAP indigenous health would be the responsibility of Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion and indigenous health programs would fall under the department of PM&C.
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Asked if the absence of a specific minister could negatively impact efforts to achieve the close the gap targets and improve life expectancy, Mr Snowdon told AAP: "I think it is a problem."
The life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is 11.5 years for men and 9.7 years for women.
This year's report card on it said efforts to close the gap on life expectancy by 2031 were falling behind.
Mr Snowdon, who released Australia's first national indigenous health plan in July, says he is concerned about the Abbott government's commitment to it.
The coalition dismissed it as an exercise in political spin and lacking substance when it was released.
Mr Snowdon is also worried about progress on negotiations for a new national partnership agreement between states and territories on indigenous health.
The previous agreement expired in June and had $1.57 billion in combined federal and state funding.
Labor committed $777 million until 2016 in the May budget towards the national partnership agreement, but so far only Victoria has offered money.
