First published in The ABC

The new portfolio for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery has brought the spotlight back on the Government's closing the gap Indigenous health policy.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's weekend Cabinet shuffle saw the creation of the portfolio, which he has given to former Defence Science and Personnel Minister Warren Snowdon.

There are no extra resources for the new Minister but there is hope that the new focus on Indigenous health will pay dividends.

Mr Snowdon has been getting used to his new title. Closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians has been one of the Federal Government's platforms.

"We've got a lot of action going in this area. What you'll see here is my dedicated responsibilities for Indigenous health, and I will concentrate my efforts very heavily on that area," he said.

"But it's important to understand that we have a lot of activity already in play, but we have a lot more to do. And it's very important from my perspective that we do that."

Mr Snowdon denies the creation of the portfolio is an admission that not enough has been done by Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin and Health Minister Nicola Roxon.

"Not at all. I think [it is] a recognition that we can focus more effectively on it by having a Minister charged with that particular responsibility," he said.

"We have been effective; we can be more effective. We'll be more effective by working together - it won't be me working on my own.

"And I think it also gives us an opportunity to address many of the determinants of health in a more comprehensive way by working across portfolios, working in a coordinated way, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"It presents me with a unique opportunity and a great challenge, and I'm very grateful for it."

Despite there being no extra money for the new portfolio, the focus on Indigenous health has been welcomed by Dr Bill Glasson.

Dr Glasson is former president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and was the health adviser for the Federal Government's intervention in the Northern Territory.

He says it is time to take action on closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

"I would support it completely. I think it's desperately needed ... There's been too much talk, there's been too many meetings, but there's not enough action," he said.

Dr Glasson says the momentum at the beginning of the intervention has been in danger of waning.

"When it was initially introduced there was a lot of media support, there was a lot of money put into the system," he said.

"That's been in a way the easy part. The hard part is now. This move of the Government really reinforces the importance now of all the departments across Government working together.

"We cannot deliver the outcome with health in isolation or housing in isolation, but that's exactly what we've been doing for the last 50 years, or 30 years."