Thoracic Society activity update
TSANZ Strategic Plan 2021-26. Goal 5.1 – The TSANZ will advocate both independently and in partnership to achieve improved respiratory health and research outcomes. Our advocacy is evidence-based, independent and robust. Advocacy is a key part of what we do in Australia and New Zealand.
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) is an active leader in advocating for lung health. We provide evidence-based policy and advice in the field of respiratory medicine and related areas. Our purpose is to promote the highest standards of patient care; develop and apply knowledge about respiratory health and disease and promote the highest quality air standards. We will collaborate with all national organisations whose objects are to improve the wellbeing of individuals affected by respiratory conditions and to promote better lung health for the community.
In recent years we have provided solicited and open consultation advice to the Australian and New Zealand federal governments, state and territory government bodies, organisations, and agencies. We remain committed to improving the lung health for all Australians and New Zealanders.
The Society participates reactive policy pieces, as well as proactive advocacy projects which are driven by our membership and our aim to improve the standard and care of lung health. The content of our submissions is data-driven and underpinned by member involvement. Recent submissions are detailed below in reverse chronological order. Our submissions to enquiries which are now closed have been linked in the tables below. If you are interested in a submission mentioned below that is not hyperlinked, please contact the office for more information.
tsanzoffice@thoracic.org.au or +61 2 9222 62006
List of Submissions
2023 Submissions - 7 Total Consultations
| Date |
Name of Consultation |
Agency | Status |
| 14-Mar-23 | NZ Smokefree Environments Regulations Submissions | NZ Ministry of Health | Pending submission |
| 24-Feb-23 | Joint Letter: Support of smoking products reform and the need for urgent implementation | Queensland Government | Complete – letter endorsed |
| 21-Feb-23 | Joint Statement: Leading health bodies back calls to ban the use of engineered stone | ACTU | Complete – submission |
| 14-Feb-23 | Joint response with LFA, AA, PHAA, and Heart Foundation: Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 2023 | Queensland Health | Complete |
| 16-Jan-23 | Proposed reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products | TGA | Complete |
| 13-Jan-23 | Proposal to fund two new treatments for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer | PHARMAC | Complete |
| 13-Jan-23 | Consultation on the 2023-2024 Federal Pre-Budget Submission Recommendations | RACP | Complete |
2022 Submissions - 36 Total Consultations
| Date |
Name of Consultation |
Agency | Status |
| 16-Dec-22 | Australian Cancer Plan | Cancer Australia | Complete |
| 13-Dec-22 | Joint submission with RACP and AFOEM on the National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (NORDR) Bill | Australian Department of Health and Aged Care | Complete |
| 06-Dec-22 | Role and function of an Australian Centre for Disease Control | Australian Department of Health and Aged Care | Complete |
| 02-Dec-22 | Discussion Paper for National Health and Climate Strategy | Australian Department of Health and Aged Care | Complete |
| 25-Nov-22 | Joint submission with ANZSRS on the revised National Dust Disease Guidelines | Resources Safety and Health Queensland | Complete |
| 21-Nov-22 | Consultation on changes to the Energy Charter for Life Support Customers | RACP | Complete |
| 15-Nov-22 | Consultation on the funding of oral vinorelbine for the treatment of various cancers | PHARMAC | Complete |
| 11-Nov-22 | Consultation on the Draft Biotoxins (indoor damp and mould) Clinical Pathway | Australian Department of Health and Aged Care | Complete |
| 09-Nov-22 | National Health Literacy Strategy Framework Consultation | Australian Department of Health and Aged Care | Complete |
| 26-Oct-22 | NSW Policy Platform | Nature Conservation Council of NSW | Air Pollution Policy endorsed |
| 24-Oct-22 | Letter to City of Vincent: Proposed Local Planning Policy: Restricted Premises – Smoking | City of Vincent | Letter sent |
| 20-Oct-22 | Joint Letter to NSW Auditor General: Audit into worker accelerated silicosis case data in NSW | NSW Government | Letter sent |
| 16-Sep-22 | Joint Statement – Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica | Australian Council of Trade Unions | Complete – submission |
| 30-Aug-22 | e-Cigarette Policy Paper | Cancer Council | Paper endorsed |
| 23-Aug-22 | Consultation on the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Bill | Health Committee New Zealand | Letter sent |
| 16-Aug-22 | Letter – Clean Energy for Health: VIC | Healthy Futures | Letter signed |
| 15-Aug-22 | ICEG: Hierarchy of Controls for minimising respiratory disease transmission | Infection Prevention and Control Expert Group (ICEG) | Complete – submission |
| 10-Aug-22 | Joint submission with RACP on Regulation Impact Statement: Managing the Risks of Respirable Crystalline Silica at Work | Safe Work Australia | Complete – submission |
| 17-Jul-22 | Telehealth Expansion Survey | Australian National Audit Office | Complete – submission |
| 08-Jul-22 | MSAC 1712 – Out of laboratory sleep studies in the diagnosis and management of sleep disordered breathing in children and adolescents | MSAC | Complete |
| 24-Jun-22 | TSANZ Response to NHMRC CEO Statement on e-Cigarettes | NHMRC | Complete |
| 03-Jun-22 | Protection of the Environment Operations (Clean Air) Regulation 2022 | NSW Environment Protection Authority | Complete – submission |
| 23-May-22 | ANZCA PS09 Guidelines | ANZCA | Complete |
| 13-May-22 | Call for clean energy by 2030 to protect health | RACP | Letter supported |
| 13-May-22 | Letter to AGL Shareholders | Healthy Futures | Letter supported |
| 28-Mar-22 | Proposal for a priority review pathway for biologicals | TGA | Complete |
| 24-Mar-22 | National Tobacco Strategy | Australian Department of Health | Complete – submission |
| 18-Mar-22 | Proposal to widen access to influenza vaccine | PHARMAC | Complete – submission |
| 16-Mar-22 | Philip Morris International buys inhaler company Vectura to expand reach in electronic cigarettes. | Respirology | Published in Respirology |
| 11-Mar-22 | Letter regarding to Prime Minister and Expenditure Review Committee regarding Urgent need for funding of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program in the 2022-2023 budget | Australian Federal Government | Letter sent |
| 04-Mar-22 | The Australian Cancer Plan 2022-2023 | Cancer Australia | Complete – submission |
| 02-Mar-22 | Consultation on COVID-19 Treatments | PHARMAC | Complete – submission |
| 02-Mar-22 | National Medicines Policy Consultation | Australian Department of Health | Complete – submission |
| 16-Feb-22 | Statement by Respiratory Physicians – Supporting medical professionals to improve the diagnosis and management of workers affected by silicosis | RACP | Complete |
| 11-Feb-22 | MSAC 1699 – National Lung Cancer Screening | MSAC | Complete |
| 28-Jan-22 | Proposal to fund treatments for cancer and asthma | PHARMAC | Complete – submission |
2021 Submissions - 22 Total Consultations
| Date |
Name of Consultation |
Agency | Status |
| 21-Dec-21 | National One Stop Shop | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care | submission |
| 16-Dec-21 | NHMRC Guidelines for Guidelines Consultation | National Health and Medical Research Council | submission |
| 12-Nov-21 | Occupational Health Risks in the Queensland Resources Industry Consultation | Queensland Government | submission |
| 18-Oct-21 | National Medicines Policy Review | Australian Department of Health | submission |
| 16-Oct-21 | MSAC Application 1689 | Medical Services Advisory Committee | Complete |
| 08-Oct-21 | Health Coalition Aotearoa | New Zealand Government | submission |
| 05-Oct-21 | Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and Priorities Consultation | Medical Research Future Fund | submission |
| 24-Aug-21 | RACP: Palliative Care Australia Consultation | Royal Australasian College of Physicians | submission |
| 2-Jun-21 | TGA: TGO110 Guidance | Therapeutic Goods Administration | Complete |
| 31-May-21 | NZ Consultation on Proposal for a SmokeFree Aoteroa 2025 Action Plan | NZ Ministry of Health | Complete |
| 21-May-21 | Draft MBS Item: Nicotine Cessation | Australian Department of Health | Complete |
| 7-May-21 | NSW Clean Air Strategy | NSW Government | Complete – submission |
| 6-May-21 | National Guidelines for Doctors Managing Workers Exposed to Respirable Crystalline | Australian Department of Health | Feedback sent to Department |
| 28-Apr-21 | Joint Letter with ACTU regarding National Dust Disease Taskforce | Australian Government | Complete – submission |
| 26-Apr-21 | MSAC Application 1646 | Medical Services Advisory Committee | Complete |
| 26-Apr-21 | MSAC Application 1660 | Medical Services Advisory Committee | Complete |
| 19-Apr-21 | National Preventive Health Strategy | Australian Government | Complete – submission |
| 15-Apr-21 | NZ Consultation on SmokeFree Environment Regulatory Products Act | NZ Ministry of Health | Complete – submission |
| 2-Apr-21 | Victorian Inquiry into Health Impacts of Air Pollution in Australia | Victorian Government | Complete – submission |
| 31-Mar-21 | Do Guidelines Make a Difference? NHMRC’s National Consultation on Guideline Impact | National Health and Medical Research Council | Complete – submission |
| 31-Mar-21 | TGA Consultation on Vaping Nicotine TGO110 | Therapeutic Goods Administration | Complete – submission |
| 21-Jan-21 | Lung Cancer Screening Enquiry | Cancer Australia | Complete – submission |
2020 Submissions - 15 Total Consultations
| Date | Name of Consultation | Agency | Status |
| 21-Dec-20 | Overnight Oximetry | Medicare Schedule Advisory Committee | Consultation ongoing |
| 18-Dec-20 | Clinical Thoracic Indicators | Australian Council on Health Standards | Consultation ongoing |
| 11-Nov-20 |
National Dust Disease Taskforce Consultation Phase 2 |
Department of Health | Complete – submission |
| 30-Oct-20 |
Interim Decision to amend the Nicotine Entry in the Poisons Standard |
Therapeutic Goods Administration | Complete – submission |
| 16-Oct-20 | Application 1634 – targeted public consultation – Comprehensive genomic profiling of non-small cell lung cancer tumour tissue specimens using next generation sequencing assays | Medicare Schedule Advisory Committee | Complete |
| 28-Sep-20 | National Preventive Health Strategy | Australian Government | Complete – submission |
| 27-Jul-20 | Health Coalition’s Prevention Brief | Health Coalition NZ | Complete – submission |
| 2-Jun-20 | COVID Inquiry Letter | Committee Secretary, Department of the Senate | Complete |
| 23-Apr-20 | Advanced Training in Paediatrics Respiratory Medicine | Department of Health and Human Services | Ongoing |
| 10-Mar-20 | New MBS item number for Alpha-1-antitrypsin genotyping | Medicare Schedule Advisory Committee | Complete |
| 18-Feb-20 | Health impacts of exposure to poor levels of air quality resulting from bushfires and drought | NSW Legislative Council | Complete – joint submission with Lung Foundation Australia |
| 17-Feb-20 | Changes to Medical CPD | Medical Board of Australia | Complete |
| 17-Feb-20 | Lung Cancer Screening enquiry | Cancer Australia | Complete – submission |
| 21-Jan-20 | Request for Information on Research Investment | Lung Foundation Australia | Complete |
| 17-Jan-20 | Consultation on Mepolizumab Final | PHARMAC | Complete – submission |
2019 Submissions - 12 Total Consultations
| Date | Name of Consultation | Agency | Status |
| 19-Dec-19 | Australian Engineered Stone Advisory Group – Silicosis | Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | Complete – submission |
| 10-Dec-19 | MBS Policy and Specialist Services Branch item review Dec 2019 | Department of Health | Complete |
| 27-Nov-19 |
Vaping letter to Associate Minister of Health |
Ministry of Health NZ | Complete – submission |
| 28-Oct-19 |
Joint TSANZ, AFOEM and RACP Submission to the National Dust Disease Taskforce Consultation Paper |
Department of Health | Complete – submission |
| 30-Sep-19 | Assessing Fitness for work in coal mining and doctor engagement | Department of Natural Resources, Mines, and Energy QLD | Complete |
| 29-Aug-19 | Health Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2019 | Georgie Crozier MP | Complete – submission |
| 21-Aug-19 | PHARMAC Consultation on the proposal for funding of oncology, multiple sclerosis and respiratory treatments | PHARMAC (Pharmaceutical Management Agency) | Complete |
| 20-Aug-19 | Mobile service for Queensland Mine Workers | Department of Natural Resources, Mines, and Energy QLD | Complete |
| 14-Aug-19 | Peripheral Venous Access Clinical Care Standard | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care | Complete |
| 14-Aug-19 | Engineered Stone Position Statement | Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists | Complete – submission |
| 1-Jul-19 |
NSW Dust Disease Scheme |
Dust Diseases Authority | Complete – submission |
| 1-Jul-19 | Review of MBS Nov1 2018 Changes | Department of Health | Complete – submission |
2018 Submissions - 16 Total Consultations
| Date | Name of Consultation | Agency | Status |
| Nov-18 | Review of Dust Diseases Scheme | NSW Government | Complete – submission |
| Oct-18 | Sleep Parliamentary Inquiry | Australian Government | Complete – submission |
| Oct-18 |
Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Consultation |
Queensland Health | Complete – submission |
| Oct-18 |
Letter of Endorsement to RACP Position Statement and Evidence Review Action to prevent obesity and reduce its impact across the life course |
RACP | Complete – submission |
| Sep-18 | Nintedanib, Pirfenidone, and Tiotropium bromide consultation | PHARMAC | Complete |
| Aug-18 | Ministerial Brief on Lung Conditions in Australia | Australian Government | Complete – submission |
| Aug-18 | MSAC 1540 Targeted consultation regarding vigilance testing | MSAC | Complete |
| Jul-18 | Omalizumab consultation | PHARMAC | Complete |
| May-18 | Draft descriptors for Thoracic Medicine – Respiratory and Sleep Studies | MBS | Complete |
| May-18 | Draft Model Scope of Clinical Practice | NSW Health | Complete – submission |
| Apr-18 |
RACP Working Party on Medical Assistance in Dying |
RACP | Complete |
| Mar-18 | RACP Policy paper on e-cigarettes | RACP | Complete – submission |
| Feb-18 | PHARMAC Montelukast consultation | PHARMAC | Complete |
| Feb-18 | PBAC asthma monoclonals | PBAC | Complete |
| Feb-18 | MBS Review items for thoracic medicine | MBS | Complete |
| Feb-18 |
MSAC 1530 Targeted consultation regarding alpha1-proteinase inhibitors |
MSAC | Complete |
2017 Submissions - 12 Total Consultations
| Date | Name of Consultation | Agency | Status |
| Dec-17 | Biosimilar Uptake Drivers Implementation | Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Council | Complete |
| Aug-17 | Review of the Dust Diseases and Lifetime Care and Support Schemes | NSW Legislative Council | Complete |
| Jul-17 |
Department of Mines spirometry review and standards |
Queensland Government | Complete |
| Jul-17 |
NSW Tobacco Strategy 2018-2022 feedback |
NSW Government | Complete |
| Jul-17 | NHMRC Public consultation on “A Framework for NHMRC Assessment and Funding of Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies” | National Health and Medical Research Council | Complete |
| Jul-17 | Inquiry into the Use of Electronic Cigarettes and Personal Vaporisers in Australia | Australian Government | Complete |
| May-17 | Response to the Draft Report for the Post-market Review of COPD Medicines | Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Council | Complete |
| Apr-17 | MBS Review | Department of Health | Complete |
| Apr-17 | RACP Training Network Principles Survey | Royal Australasian College of Physicians | Complete |
| Mar-17 | Post-market Review of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Medicines3 government hearings | Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Council | Complete |
| Mar-17 |
Committee Select Committee into Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates |
Australian Government | Complete |
| Feb-17 | Tobramycin inhalation review | Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Council | Complete |