Ministerial Statement

Dental Services

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:15): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Last week, I wrote to the federal Minister for Health, Hon. Sussan Ley MP, to inform her of my deep concerns over the lack of advice from the commonwealth government about its commitment to funding public dental services. The National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on Adult Public Dental Services expired on 30 June and is yet to be replaced with a new agreement. Minister Ley wrote to all state and territory health ministers prior to the federal election, stating that the commonwealth would extend this NPA for six months to 31 December. However, since then the commonwealth has made no moves to formalise this apparent intention to extend the NPA.

No explanation has been provided for this delay and the reasons for it remain a mystery. In any case, even if the extension were formalised tomorrow, it would only last for another month before again expiring. The commonwealth government has previously announced plans to replace both the NPA on Adult Public Dental Services and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule with a new Child and Adult Public Dental Scheme. I understand the intention was for this new scheme to be in place by 1 January; however, negotiations around this proposal appear to have stalled due to the commonwealth government's difficulty in passing legislation through the parliament.

Minister Ley has made commitments to the COAG Health Council that, should the commonwealth's legislation not be passed in a timely manner, the arrangements under the current NPA on Adult Public Dental Services would be extended until 30 June next year. However, again, we have not heard anything further from the commonwealth on this matter. Time is quickly running out, and it is completely unacceptable that South Australia and other states and territories have been left in this state of limbo. Throughout the year, the commonwealth has only engaged in sporadic negotiations on this issue, and we have no idea what level of funding they will commit to dental services beyond the end of 2016.

All states and territories have been left in an uncertain financial position by this delay which has also created genuine operational risks for the SA Dental Service and compromised its ability to maintain an appropriately trained workforce. I call on all members, for once, to stand up to their federal colleagues and join me in strongly criticising the Turnbull government for the needless uncertainty it has created in this matter, as well as calling on the commonwealth to announce its intentions without further delay.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss would have been called to order were it not for the provocation from the Minister for Health.