Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, has announced he his leaving the post in order to be closer to his family in Melbourne.

 

Health Minister Nicola Roxon has paid tribute to Professor Bishop, saying he has provided "great national leadership".

 

"I thank Professor Bishop for his support and wise counsel and wish him the very best for the future," she said.

 

"Professor Bishop and I have worked closely throughout his term of office on a diverse range of important health issues, including the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic," she said.

 

"During this global health emergency, Professor Bishop showed great national leadership including instilling confidence in the Australian public that governments and health authorities were working together in their best interests."

 

Professor Bishop, an oncologist, has been appointed the head of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Ms Roxon says she is delighted he will continue to play an active role in the nation's health.

 

"Professor Bishop is one of Australia's leading oncologists, receiving an Order of Australia for his contribution to medicine, and I am delighted that he has been appointed to the prestigious positions of executive director of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and University of Melbourne Chair of Cancer Medicine," she said.

 

"The Centre will bring together seven leading institutions in research, cancer treatment and education to create the largest cancer clinical and research centre in Australia.

 

"When established, it will be one of the most important cancer centres in the world and I can think of no better person to lead this ambitious endeavour than Professor Bishop."