❓ Mr Cook questions the Minister for Health about the attraction and retention benefit for dentists and dental clinic assistants. The Minister acknowledges the issue and commits to investigating and intervening if necessary, but does not provide a firm guarantee.
AnsweredQoN 311Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DENTISTS AND DENTAL CLINIC ASSISTANTS — ATTRACTION AND RETENTION BENEFIT
I acknowledge in the gallery the presence of the primary extension and challenge students from the Peel education district, including my own electorate of Kwinana. I refer to the attraction and retention benefit currently received by dentists and dental clinic assistants. (1) Can the minister provide any guarantee to dentists and dental clinic assistants that the attraction and retention benefit will continue? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES
I acknowledge in the gallery the presence of the primary extension and challenge students from the Peel education district, including my own electorate of Kwinana. I refer to the attraction and retention benefit currently received by dentists and dental clinic assistants. (1) Can the minister provide any guarantee to dentists and dental clinic assistants that the attraction and retention benefit will continue? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
I refer to the attraction and retention benefit currently received by dentists and dental clinic assistants. (1) Can the minister provide any guarantee to dentists and dental clinic assistants that the attraction and retention benefit will continue? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(1) Can the minister provide any guarantee to dentists and dental clinic assistants that the attraction and retention benefit will continue? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
I refer to the attraction and retention benefit currently received by dentists and dental clinic assistants. (1) Can the minister provide any guarantee to dentists and dental clinic assistants that the attraction and retention benefit will continue? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(1) Can the minister provide any guarantee to dentists and dental clinic assistants that the attraction and retention benefit will continue? (2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(2) Does the minister acknowledge that without the attraction and retention benefit these health care professionals will have a pay freeze and will take a pay cut in real terms? (3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(3) Will the minister intervene to ensure that the attraction and retention benefit is retained in an effort to stop the inevitable flood of current employees away from public dental clinics? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: (1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
(1)–(3) Problems to do with dental health have been an issue for this state for a long period. I admit that during the four years that I was in opposition, from getting reelected in 2001 up until when we were elected to government, I spent a lot of time — Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected. Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Sorry, in 2004, when I was re-elected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Get your own career right. Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : It was a good four years, and very peaceful; much better than being in opposition. When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
When I got reelected, during that four years as opposition spokesperson on health, I did look significantly at issues to do with dental health. It was not my field, so I sought advice from a wide range of people in the dental industry to come up with something that this state government could do to try to address the needs of dental health in this state. I was not able to get anything. I could name some of the people I went to. Some did not want to come up with things because they did not want to get offside with the government and the Minister for Health at the time by coming up with ideas. Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You will get around to answering the actual question, won’t you? Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : Yes, this is part of the answer. Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It doesn’t seem like part of the answer. Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : It is a building thing; it grows. Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr R.H. Cook : What are you going to do now? Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : This is a very important question. I am leading up to it. I was unable to find any answers from opposition. We made a lot of commitments from opposition about fantastic policies that we were able to get the funding for when we gained government, things such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the patient assisted travel scheme and the friend in need scheme, things that were of significant benefit to the state. We did not find an allocation to dentists because it was so difficult. In fact, I sat down with the former minister, Mr McGinty, and talked to him about what we could do. I did not attack him at any stage because I knew how difficult it was from my own conversations. He and I had huge difficulties attracting dentists to work in the public system, largely doing school dental work. The pay for the dental assistants was very poor. In one case I remember making issue of the fact that the pay for the cleaner in a dental clinic was going to be higher than what the dental assistant received. The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
The member for Kwinana would recall that this is primary health care and it is the responsibility of the federal government to look after primary health care, even though traditionally this state does play a role. Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr R.H. Cook : You still haven’t got to the question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I have a few minutes left. To get to the specifics of the question, I am not aware of any move to remove that guarantee. That has certainly not been brought to my attention, nor would I think it appropriate. I am prepared to give a commitment to intervene if required. Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I formally call you to order for the first time today. You know you have the opportunity to get to your feet to ask a question. Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I would be prepared to let the member for Joondalup ask the supplementary instead of the member for Kwinana. I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
I am prepared to have a look. I am not aware of that occurring; I doubt very much that it is. However, given that I have not heard of it, I am not positive, so I will make sure. If we can—collectively, rather than in opposition with each other—find some way to improve dental services, I would be very pleased to hear it because there is an enormous gap in the state and federal governments’ provision of services. We have had discussions federally as state ministers for this; in fact, part of the national health reform included a Medicare levy equivalent to cover the cost of dentists, but it would have been very politically difficult for the current Labor government to do that. It would have been politically unpalatable for the community as a whole to suddenly have a new levy for dental care to deal with. But somehow, collectively, we need to find a way to do it. If the member is able, he should talk to his federal colleagues and talk to the people who were unable to bring me a plan for something new. Short of injecting massive amounts of money into it in the way that we just have with the inland country health service—that is the way to do it—I would much rather have something with federal government dollars because it is primary care. The state government is looking for an option but in the meantime that benefit creates a degree of incentive and I am happy to ensure it continues.
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