❓ Question regarding the effectiveness of the $2 million dental health initiative, rising waiting lists, and unsustainable staffing levels in WA public dental clinics. The Minister deflects blame to the former Commonwealth dental scheme.
AnsweredQoN 490Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the State’s public dental health services and to the unprecedented situation - Mr R.C. Kucera interjected. Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN: The member might care to listen to this question, as it goes back to his time as minister. I refer to the unprecedented situation, whereby every head of unit of each of the 10 metropolitan government dental clinics wrote to the minister explaining that the $2 million waiting list initiative announced by the Premier in February is not working; that public dental waiting lists are in fact increasing; and that staffing levels have fallen to an unsustainable level, the result of which, to use their words, is that public dentistry is in crisis in this State. (1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr R.C. Kucera interjected. Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN: The member might care to listen to this question, as it goes back to his time as minister. I refer to the unprecedented situation, whereby every head of unit of each of the 10 metropolitan government dental clinics wrote to the minister explaining that the $2 million waiting list initiative announced by the Premier in February is not working; that public dental waiting lists are in fact increasing; and that staffing levels have fallen to an unsustainable level, the result of which, to use their words, is that public dentistry is in crisis in this State. (1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN: The member might care to listen to this question, as it goes back to his time as minister. I refer to the unprecedented situation, whereby every head of unit of each of the 10 metropolitan government dental clinics wrote to the minister explaining that the $2 million waiting list initiative announced by the Premier in February is not working; that public dental waiting lists are in fact increasing; and that staffing levels have fallen to an unsustainable level, the result of which, to use their words, is that public dentistry is in crisis in this State. (1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr R.C. Kucera interjected. Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN: The member might care to listen to this question, as it goes back to his time as minister. I refer to the unprecedented situation, whereby every head of unit of each of the 10 metropolitan government dental clinics wrote to the minister explaining that the $2 million waiting list initiative announced by the Premier in February is not working; that public dental waiting lists are in fact increasing; and that staffing levels have fallen to an unsustainable level, the result of which, to use their words, is that public dentistry is in crisis in this State. (1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN: The member might care to listen to this question, as it goes back to his time as minister. I refer to the unprecedented situation, whereby every head of unit of each of the 10 metropolitan government dental clinics wrote to the minister explaining that the $2 million waiting list initiative announced by the Premier in February is not working; that public dental waiting lists are in fact increasing; and that staffing levels have fallen to an unsustainable level, the result of which, to use their words, is that public dentistry is in crisis in this State. (1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(1) Does the minister agree with this honest and frank assessment by those 10 senior health department officers? (2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(2) Why, almost nine months after they took the brave step of approaching the minister directly, has the minister failed to address their specific concerns, preferring instead to hide behind a charade of misleading statistics? (3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(3) Why, five months after they asked the minister for a meeting, has the minister failed to take their concerns seriously by meeting with them and listening to their advice? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
(1)-(3) I am pleased to be able to advise the House of the success we have had in recent times in dealing with a problem that has been caused by one well-known Australian; that is, John Howard. There is no way of escaping this. I think the member for Darling Range might even agree with me. I will briefly relay to the House the nature of the problem. Up until John Howard abolished the commonwealth dental scheme in 1996 - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
The SPEAKER: Order! Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: In 1996 John Howard stopped the commonwealth dental scheme, which was providing care and treatment each year to 40 000 low income Western Australians. It was a callous move by the Prime Minister of Australia to say to those predominantly elderly people that the federal Government would no longer provide them with subsidised dental care. Almost immediately dental waiting lists in Western Australia started to rise. They have now risen to unacceptable levels. That is why we are doing something about it. Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.H.D. Day: Action was taken in 2000 to correct that and to expand state-funded public dental services. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I agree with the member for Darling Range. I was about to pay tribute to the member’s involvement in recognising the nature of that problem, which was caused by John Howard abolishing the commonwealth dental scheme. In 2000, the member for Darling Range was the Minister for Health in this State. He recognised that there was a growing and significant problem. He did two things, which I commend him for. He went to the Treasurer and found an extra $2 million to $3 million. Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.H.D. Day: The budget for public dental services went from $32 million to $40 million. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am told that for this specific initiative it was an extra $2 million to $3 million. Eligibility for the state public dental scheme for low income earners was also expanded because of the problem created by the Commonwealth walking away from the 40 000 Western Australians who were being treated each year. The problem was recognised in 2000. It was also recognised at the beginning of this year, because dental waiting lists were growing to an unacceptable level. At the beginning of this year, 24 000 Western Australians were on the public dental waiting list in this State. That is why I went to the Premier, as the member for Darling Range did when he was in government, and discussed with him the need to deal with this problem, because these are the people whom a Labor Government should be looking after. The Premier responded and made money available so that we could address the chronically long waiting lists for public dental treatment in Western Australia, which was caused by John Howard and no-one else. The reason I say that, beyond making the obvious political point, is that if treatment is no longer offered to 40 000 Western Australians each year, those people will need emergency treatment that would not have been needed had they received regular dental treatment. Over that period - it was not immediate but it has certainly been coming hard at us since we came to government - the percentage of cases - Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: The member for Mitchell should listen; he will learn something. The percentage of cases dealt with as emergencies, as distinct from routine treatment, has grown from 40 per cent a few years ago to 60 per cent today. In other words, the public dental system is dealing with emergencies caused by John Howard not offering treatment when he withdrew $10 million in funding a year from 40 000 Western Australians. We are dealing with that problem. It is no different from the problem members opposite had to deal with when in government. Earlier this year the Premier set aside $2 million to offer surgery to people who had been waiting for an unacceptably long time. It was particularly the advocacy of our country members that brought this matter to our attention. They said, “Get on with it; we need to do something. These waiting lists are totally unacceptable.” As a result, in the past six or seven months there has been a sensational turnaround in the number of people waiting for dental treatment in the State. At the beginning of the year, that number was 24 000; by 30 June, it had come down to 19 635. In the past month and a half it has fallen by a further 500 to 19 135. The figure is still too high, but that reversal means an awful lot to the thousands of people who are receiving dental treatment from the Government, and who have been waiting far too long. Moreover, the Government will do a lot more to help them.
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Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.