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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 in 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 evidence-driven and underpinned by member involvement.

The Society also proactively advocates for better lung health by engaging with policy makers and the public through media releases, op-eds, participating in interviews, and letters to Ministers and other MPs.

Recent advocacy items are detailed below in reverse chronological order.

advocacy@thoracic.org.au or +61 2 9222 62006

List of Advocacy Items

2023 Advocacy Items - 40 Total Pieces

 

Date  Advocacy item title  Recipient (s) Complete item
14-Sept-23 Parliamentary letter campaign: The next government’s opportunity to save tradies lives and livelihoods New Zealand Ministers and MPs Letter sent to 120 Members of Parliament
14-Sept-23 Media Release: Thoracic Society supports pre-election promises to build the New Zealand health workforce New Zealand Media

Scoop Health

Voxy Health

11-Sept-23 SMH Feature: Federal government under pressure to release Safe Work’s benchtop ban report Australian Media

Sydney Morning Herald

The Age

Brisbane Times

WA Today

11-Sept-23 Op-ed: Dust disease registry must not punish doctors Australian Media The Limbic
6-Sept-23 Parliamentary letter campaign: The next government’s once in a generation opportunity to clamp down on tobacco addiction New Zealand Ministers and MPs Letter sent to 120 Members of Parliament
29-Aug-23 Op-ed: The reasons lung-health experts want engineered stone banned New Zealand Media

The Post

The Press

The Waikato Times

24-Aug-23 Media Release: The next government has a once in a generation opportunity to crack-down on e-cigarettes New Zealand Media

NZ Doctor

Sun Live

Live News

Scoop Health

Voxy Health

16-Aug-23 Response to the Senate’s Legislative Committee Inquiry into the 2023 respiratory disease registry bills  The Senate’s Standing Committee on Community Affairs – Legislative Committee Submission response
24-Jul-23 National Health and Climate Strategy Australian Department of Health Submission response
21-Jul-23 Improving alignment and coordination between the Medical Research Future Fund and Medical Research Endowment Account Australian Department of Health Submission response
13-Jul-23 Public Health (Tobacco and other Products) Legislation 2023 Australian Department of Health Response under consideration
11-Jul-23 ICCR Draft Tumours of the Lung – Small Diagnostic and Cytopathological Specimens dataset International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting Submission response
11-Jul-23 MSAC Application: Amendment to MBS Item Number 11512 to include Portable Home Spirometry via Telehealth MSAC Response under consideration
26-Jun-23 Proposal to clarify how nicotine levels for vaping products are expressed in the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Regulations 2021 New Zealand – Manatū Houora Submission response sent
22-Jun-23 Media Release: Steps Towards Stopping Silicosis – Thoracic Society welcomes National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023 Australian Media Media Release
08-Jun-23 Media Release: Thoracic Society supports the New Zealand governments new stance on e-cigarettes New Zealand Media

NZ Doctor

Scoop Politics

Voxy Health

30-May-23 Joint Media Release: Call for a ban of disposable vaping products in New Zealand New Zealand Media

NewsHub

Radio New Zealand

Scoop Health

Voxy Health

29-May-23 Op-ed: Ban these e-cigarettes for the good of the environment and your lungs Australian & New Zealand Media

In Touch Public Health – PHA Australia

The Limbic

Stuff

Waikato Times

The Post

The Press

17-May-23 Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension New Zealand – PHARMAC Submission response
12-May-23 Media Release: Budget Highlight 2023-2024 – Achievements for Lung Health Australian Media Media release
09-May-23 Letter to Hon Dr. Ayesha Verrall, NZ Minister of Health: Ban Disposable E-Cigarettes New Zealand Health Minister Letter sent to Minister
05-May-23 Joint Submission: Vaping – an inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use in Queensland Queensland Government Submission response
 04-May-23 Media Release: Thoracic Society support National Targeted Lung Cancer Screening Program Australian Media Media Release
02-May-23  Media Release: Minister Butler’s e-cigarette reforms will protect generations of Australians from nicotine addiction Australian Media Media Release
28-Apr-23 Letter to PBAC: FP50 PBAC Letter sent to Minister
28-Apr-23 Joint letter to Minister Butler: FP50 Australian Government Letter sent to Minister
19-Apr-23 Letter to Expenditure Review Committee: Urgent need for funding of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program in the 2023-2024 Budget Australian Government Letter sent to Minister
 17-Apr-23 Letter to Hon Mark Butler MP: Vaping policy in Australia Australian Government Letter sent to Minister
16-Apr-23  Joint Response (TSANZ, RACP, AFOEM): Public consultation on the prohibition on the use of engineered stone Safe Work Australia Submission response
31-Mar-23 Joint Response (TSANZ, LFA, AA, PHAA, HF, AMAQ): Inquiry into the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 2023 Health and Environment Committee Submission response sent
24-Mar-23 National Silicosis Prevention Strategy Australian Department of Health Submission Response sent
20-Mar-23 Letter to Hon David Littleproud MP: Vaping policy in Australia Australian Government Letter sent to Minister
14-Mar-23 Submission Response: NZ Smokefree Environments Regulations New Zealand – Manatū Houora Submission response sent
02-Mar-23 Letter to the Minister of Health: NZ Tobacco Regulations New Zealand Health Minister Letter sent to Minister
28-Feb-23 Joint Letter: Support of smoking products reform and the need for urgent implementation Queensland Minister of Health Letter sent to Minister
21-Feb-23 Joint Statement: Leading health bodies back calls to ban the use of engineered stone ACTU Joint Statement
14-Feb-23 Joint response (LFA, AA, PHAA, and the Heart Foundation): Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Amendment Bill 2023 Queensland Health Submission response sent
16-Jan-23  Proposed reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products TGA Submission response sent
13-Jan-23 Proposal to fund two new treatments for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer New Zealand – PHARMAC Submission response sent
13-Jan-23  Consultation on the 2023-2024 Federal Pre-Budget Submission Recommendations RACP Submission response sent

 

2022 Submissions - 37 Total Pieces
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
05-Dec-22 Media Release: A survey of adult respiratory and sleep services in Aotearoa New Zealand: inequities in the provision of adult respiratory and sleep services Media Release Sent
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 Pieces
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 Pieces
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 Pieces
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 Pieces
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 Pieces
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

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