Australia's dental industry meets parliament

The leadership of Australia's dental industry today convenes at Parliament House, Canberra, to discuss the commercial, technical and regulatory environment for the supply of quality dental product.

The meeting is the Australian Dental Industry Leadership Council, a consultative body of the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA).

"This annual meeting allows senior executives from the dental industry to meet the politicians and public servants that have the power to remove the unnecessary regulatory burden associated with the supply of dental product," said Troy Williams, ADIA Chief Executive Officer.

ADIA will meet with the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, the Honourable Catherine King MP, who has ministerial oversight of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the government agency responsible for setting and enforcing the regulatory standards for dental product. Last month Dr John Skerritt was appointed TGA National General Manager and he will also meet with ADIA members present at the meeting.

"ADIA will be seeking a commitment that the TGA remails fully committed to a regulatory framework for dental product that is based upon a risk management approach designed to protect public health and safety while at the same time freeing industry from an unnecessary regulatory burden," Mr Williams said.

Given the national focus on public funding of dental services, ADIA members at the Parliament House meeting will also discuss the Opposition's dental an oral healthcare priorities with the Honourable Peter Dutton MP, the Shadow Minister for Health. A similar discussion will also be held with Senator Richard Di Natale, the Australian Green's health spokesperson.

"This meeting organised by ADIA and convened at Parliament House is all about reinforcing an understanding that the dental industry is an integral partner in the delivery of dental and oral healthcare services," Mr Williams concluded.