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 | |
| 11-Sept-23 | SMH Feature: Federal government under pressure to release Safe Work’s benchtop ban report | Australian Media | |
| 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 | |
| 24-Aug-23 | Media Release: The next government has a once in a generation opportunity to crack-down on e-cigarettes | New Zealand Media | |
| 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 | |
| 30-May-23 | Joint Media Release: Call for a ban of disposable vaping products in New Zealand | New Zealand Media | |
| 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 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 |