Dental Industry Welcomes New Assistant Minister For Health

The peak business organisation representing manufacturers and suppliers of dental products, the Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA), has welcomed the announcement that Mr Ken Wyatt AM MP will become the new Assistant Minister for Health.

"We welcome the appointment of Mr Wyatt as the Assistant Minister for Health and look forward to working with him to ensure that the regulatory framework for dental products is based on a risk management approach designed to ensure public health and safety, while at the same time freeing industry from any unnecessary regulatory burden," said Troy Williams, ADIA Chief Executive Officer.

According to ADIA, one of Mr Wyatt's first priorities should be to address the shambolic attempts by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) at red tape reduction that actually had the reverse effect and increased compliance costs for small businesses.

"From 1 July 2015 businesses across the dental industry are facing higher TGA fees as a result of botched reforms. We look forward to working with Mr Wyatt to correct the TGA's approach to the way it collects fees from businesses across Australia's dental industry," Mr Williams said.

ADIA has also welcomed confirmation that the Hon. Sussan Ley MP will continue as Minister for Health, highlighting the importance of stability across the portfolio.

"The health portfolio is complex and we have admired Ms Ley's ability to get across the key issues since her appointment last December. Her dedication to taking the time to meet with ADIA and take into account the issues important to dental product manufacturers has been welcomed," Mr Williams said.

Similarly, the appointment of Sen. Hon. Fiona Nash as Minister for Rural Health, the former Assistant Minister for Health, has been welcomed by ADIA. The move that increases the number of ministers in health portfolios from two to three will, in ADIA's view, provide a more acute focus upon key reform areas in health policy.

"ADIA enjoyed a positive working relationship with Ms Nash in her former role as Assistant Minister for Health and we wish her well in the important task of improving health in remote and regional Australia," Mr Williams concluded.