The junior minister continues to weather criticism over her former chief of staff, Alastair Furnival's involvement in a decision to shut down the government's healthy food website on the day it was posted. Has not met with health bodies after more than six months in the job: Assistant Health Minister Senator Fiona Nash. Credit:Andrew Meares Mr Furnival resigned earlier this month when it was revealed that he co-owned with his wife a lobbying firm that represented clients in the junk food industry. Prime Minister Tony Abbott deflected questions in Parliament on Thursday when asked about the background of Mr Furnival and his role in a Coalition election promise of a $16 million grant for a Cadbury chocolate factory in Tasmania. The opposition probed Mr Furnival's involvement in the Cadbury funding after it was revealed he had been employed by the chocolate company immediately before taking up the most senior post in Senator Nash's office, where he would have direct influence over health and food policy.

Key health organisations contacted by Fairfax Media said they had not met with Senator Nash "directly" despite, in some cases, trying numerous times to organise meetings. "A number of times we requested a meeting with the Assistant Health Minister, but we were directed to one of her advisers," said Melanie Walker, acting CEO of the Public Health Association. Asked whether it was odd for an Assistant Health Minister to refuse to meet with the public health body, Ms Walker said: "'Disappointing' would be more the word that I would use." The Heart Foundation requested meetings with the Assistant Minister but was directed to Mr Furnival. The Heart Foundation has met with the Health Minister Peter Dutton, but found it more difficult gaining access to the junior minister. Nor has the Cancer Council met with Senator Nash, but the director of advocacy, Paul Grogan, said the group had not sought a meeting until recently and expected to meet her soon.

The peak consumer group Choice requested a meeting with Senator Nash but like other peak bodies was instead offered a meeting with Mr Furnival. Professor of Public Health at the University of Melbourne, Rob Moodie, said it was "strange" that a minister supposedly committed to preventative health had not met personally with such major bodies. Professor Moodie said he had concerns about Senator Nash's "outsourcing" of important policy meetings to a lobbyist who had represented junk food clients. When the health star rating website was taken down a coalition of health groups, including the Cancer Council and Heart Foundation, wrote a letter to the Assistant Health Minister to express their concerns. Senator Nash's office replied saying she was eager to meet the health groups and would do so shortly. Snack food companies including Mondelez - owner of Cadbury and Kraft - have made no secret of their opposition to the health star rating system.

Since taking over the Assistant Health portfolio last September, Senator Nash has also been criticised for cutting funding to the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia, which has operated since 1966. It closes on Friday. Fairfax Media has contacted Senator Nash's office for comment. Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King attacked Mr Abbott for continuing to stand by a minister who has made "an infected policy decision and has misled the Parliament on a number of occasions". With Dan Harrison, Amy Corderoy Loading