❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health about growing public dental waiting lists, budget underspending, and unfilled positions. The Minister acknowledges the issue, citing recruitment difficulties and funding challenges, passing blame to the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 747Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC DENTAL WAITING LIST
My question is to the Minister for Health — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I will give you the call if you want to take the call in this place, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. The member for Kwinana has the floor at the moment. Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES
My question is to the Minister for Health — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I will give you the call if you want to take the call in this place, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. The member for Kwinana has the floor at the moment. Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I will give you the call if you want to take the call in this place, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. The member for Kwinana has the floor at the moment. Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I will give you the call if you want to take the call in this place, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. The member for Kwinana has the floor at the moment. Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I will give you the call if you want to take the call in this place, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. The member for Kwinana has the floor at the moment. Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
The SPEAKER : Member for Joondalup, I will give you the call if you want to take the call in this place, but I am formally going to call you to order for the first time today. The member for Kwinana has the floor at the moment. Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
Mr R.H. COOK : I refer to the blow-out in the number of patients on the public dental waiting list. (1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(1) Will the minister confirm that the patient waitlists for dental surgery have now blown out from 11 285 in 2008 to a staggering 17 900 in 2010, with an average waiting time now of over 12 months? (2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(2) Will the minister confirm that there is a significant underspend of more than $2.5 million in the 2009–10 budget on dental health services, and that at the same time the unprecedented number of patients on the waiting list has grown? (3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(3) Will the minister confirm that 172 jobs funded in the budget have not been filled? (4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(4) Will the minister explain why, as demonstrated by his actions, he regards the dental health issue as such a low priority? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
(1)–(4) I have to say that it is an area with which we have struggled, as did the former Labor government. I well remember raising this issue with the former Minister for Health when the current opposition was in government, and he had exactly the same difficulties. The difficulties are caused by the fact employing people to work in this area, particularly in school dental health, is extraordinarily difficult; there are just not enough dentists out there who want to work within the public health system. That is why the commonwealth government, as part of its Australia-wide health reform, included the prospect of having a Medicare equivalent levy to try to improve dental health treatment across Australia. It is a very difficult issue. The reality is, in my view, that dentists and dental assistants are not paid enough, and that competition with the private sector is too strong. We have been working hard to try to get people into those positions; as the member for Kwinana has quite rightly said, the budgets are in place to cover those areas but there is a huge shortfall in full-time equivalents because we just cannot get people into those positions. I do not know what the answer is; I do not know how to fix it. If the member for Kwinana has any ideas, I would be happy to listen to them.
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