THE Australian Dental Association (ADA) is calling on the Federal Government to support calls by  Senator Stirling Griff to work with state governments to provide more Medicare-funded dental care for all children, pensioners and welfare recipients.

“The ADA applauds the senator for his motion due to be tabled today (Monday, February 24), seeking  to increase publicly-funded dental care and improve ‘shocking rates of preventable oral health disease and hospital admissions,’” ADA president Carmelo Bonanno said.

The motion adds to the growing chorus of voices urging Canberra to do more to ensure a higher number of Australians have access to dental services.

“Senator Griff has rightly identified that many Australians are desperate for dental care and are unable to access care even if they’re eligible for public dental services," Dr Bonanno said.

“It’s time that all levels of government and the dental profession work together on more sustainable funding models. Currently states are unsure whether there will be even Commonwealth funding for public dental waiting lists past June 2020.

“We need a commitment to extend the current National Partnership on public dental funding while other options are considered.”

Dr Bonanno said the idea that oral health should be funded differently to the rest of the body "is a nonsense".

“We have a successful model in the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, it’s now time to extend this model to other groups in the community such as the elderly and those on low incomes," Dr Bonanno said.

"The ADA has been asking successive federal governments for years to consider the Australian Dental Health Plan as a blueprint for action.

“Senator Griff’s motion is a welcome boost to our ongoing campaign we’ve been fighting on many fronts in order to bring about this change in thinking in Canberra. Targeted funding that supports those people that are often least likely to attend a dentist regularly is sorely needed if we’re to improve Australians’ oral health.”

The ADA’s Australian Dental Health Plan is available at www.ada.org.au/ADHP

ADA facts on the issue:

• The National Oral Health Plan 2015-24 identified that more than 90 percent of adults and 40 percent of young children have experienced tooth decay.
• Only four out of every 10 have a favourable visiting pattern (to a dentist) and there are many Australians who require specific strategies to improve access to treatment..
• Poor oral health is a significant contributor to poor overall health where patients who live with long- term pain suffer severe and often catastrophic consequences.
• More than 72,000 Australians are hospitalised annually due to preventable oral health conditions.  
• The cost to all Australians through preventable hospitalisation is significant however the cost to individuals is so much higher.
• More than three times as many Australians put off going to the dentist when compared with visiting the doctor.

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THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the opening of Alexandra Hills State High School’s Centre for Excellence in Automation and Robotics which will operate in partnership with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the centre would be among the best equipped in the State to tap into the careers of the future.

“I congratulate the Queensland Government on the completion of the centre which comes at a time when we are facing critical shortages of skilled people, despite the enormous opportunities from investment in the sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Investments in projects like this, and through the work of the QMEA, are helping students learn about the opportunities for a skilled, well paid and long-term career with the resources sector.

“Alexandra Hills is one of the 75 schools which have partnered with our education arm the QMEA and this Centre will give teachers and industry professionals the space to showcase how technology is changing the workplace.

“QMEA delivers hands-on events alongside people from industry to help students understand the link between classrooms and workplaces. Whether that’s through science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) or trades such as welding," he said.

“The establishment of this $4.7 million centre reinforces the importance of investing in skills for the long-term future of the resources sector and for regional Queensland. Our sector continues to make new investments in technology and innovation to ensure we remain globally competitive.

“QMEA students participate in a range of activities ranging from data-modelling, to using drones and robotics, to using 3D printing to apply to real-life scenarios relating to the minerals and energy sector," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The latest data shows that almost 22 percent of QMEA students who finished school in 2018 and went to university began studies in engineering and related technologies last year, compared with 15 percent of students in non-QMEA schools.”

The QMEA is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.

www.qrc.org.au

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RSL QUEENSLAND will continue to honour indigenous veterans, as it does for all who have served this country, at its many commemorative services.

RSL Queensland President Tony Ferris said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people had served in every war and conflict since the Boer War, and their contribution must not be forgotten.

“Although they fought and sometimes died shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Australians, they returned home to a country that still refused to acknowledge them as citizens,” Mr Ferris said.

“This is why RSL Queensland acknowledges the invaluable contribution our indigenous service people have made – and continue to make – to the defence of our nation.”

While ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day honour all who have served, since 2006 RSL Queensland has also hosted an Indigenous Veterans’ Ceremony, held in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square during National Reconciliation Week. This specifically recognises the service of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people who have served in all wars and conflicts. This year it will be held on May 30.

Members of the public are invited to attend the annual ceremony and pay their respects to indigenous service people, both past and present, who have served and sacrificed for their country.

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell is encouraging small businesses to have their say on a draft law requiring big businesses to be more transparent about their payment times.

The Federal Government has today opened consultation on the draft Payment Times Reporting Framework legislation that will require businesses with turnover of more than $100 million to publish information about their payment policies.

“Cash flow is king for small businesses and we welcome the Federal Government’s continued efforts to ensure they are paid on time,” Ms Carnell said.

“This framework will require big businesses to be upfront and honest about the time it takes to pay small businesses, to help small businesses choose who they supply.

“The legislation will apply to about 2,500 large Australian businesses, including foreign companies and government entities. Late payments by large businesses to small businesses account for 53 percent of all invoices, according to data from Xero.

“That’s $7 billion of working capital that Australian small businesses are missing out on every year - money they could be using to grow their business," Ms Carnell said.

“Small businesses can now provide their feedback on this proposed reform which is designed to drive cultural change in business payment performance across the economy.”

Consultation on the draft legislation is open until March 6 via https://consult.industry.gov.au

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