Member Consultations

Gas Fired Recovery Plan

Closes 31 Mar 2021/Opened 1 Dec 2020

Contact - Gas Taskforce - gas@industry.gov.au

Overview

Due to strong interest from stakeholders, the department is extending consultations to run until 31 March 2021.

You are welcome to submit new or additional responses, even if you’ve already submitted input during the previous consultation period (which ran from 1 December to 26 February 2021).

The Australian Government’s vision for a gas-fired recovery for Australia’s economy will be delivered through a number of measures across 3 key action areas:

  • unlocking supply

  • efficient transportation

  • empowering consumers

Our department is currently developing measures to address these key areas and would like to hear your views to inform their development.

For example:

The National Gas Infrastructure Plan (NGIP)

Establishing Wallumbilla as Australia’s Gas Hub

Why we are consulting

Your feedback will help us to:

  • understand issues that require consideration in developing measures

  • identify who we need to consult with on the detail of individual measures

  • Consultation note

Read more about the measures and the feedback we’re seeking in our Gas Fired Recovery Plan consultation note [118KB PDF] [60KB DOCX]

INQUIRY INTO RURAL HEALTH SERVICES IN TASMANIA

The Legislative Council Government Administration Committee ‘A’ has recently resolved to establish a Sub-Committee to inquire into and report on health outcomes and access to community health and hospital services for Tasmanians living in rural and remote Tasmania. The Sub-Committee invites written submissions from interested organisations and individuals, however, individual health care complaints are unable to be considered.

Electronic submissions are encouraged and all submissions can be provided to: Jenny Mannering, Inquiry Secretary Parliament House, HOBART 7000 rur@parliament.tas.gov.au Phone: (03) 6212 2249 The Terms of Reference and other relevant information are available on the inquiry webpage https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/Council/GovAdminA_RuralHealth.htm or by contacting the Inquiry Secretary.

Submissions become the property of the Committee and are generally made publicly available via the Inquiry webpage prior to the Committee releasing its Final Report. However, authors of submissions should not publish their submission elsewhere until after the Committee has reported. Submissions should be received by no later than close of business on Friday, 12 March 2021

Members of the Sub-Committee Inquiry: Ms Forrest – Inquiry Chair Mr Gaffney Ms Lovell Dr Seidel – Inquiry Deputy Chair Mr Valentine LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ‘A

Feedback in relation to the attached Change Proposal which is in relation to the adoption of a clinical utilisation review (CUR) approach across the THS. The implementation of CUR process and supporting electronic data capture tool (MCAP) is part of a multi-faceted approach to improve access and flow challenges throughout the Tasmanian Health Service (THS).

• Clinical utilisation review is a clinical decision process that enables the impartial and objective, evidenced-based assessment of whether patients are receiving the optimum level of care. It also informs service and system level analysis and transformation.

• Implementation of a clinical utilisation review approach and the MCAP tool will provide quality data that can be used to inform local decision making and assist wards/units/services to examine and address delays and barriers to discharge and the delivery of the optimal level of care for patients.

/sites/tas/files/Approved%20MCAP%20Change%20Proposal%20CCarr%2012.02.2021.pdf

The Tasmanian Government’s Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy consultation, designed to let you have an input into the development of  Tasmania’s first whole of Government Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy for 0 to 25-year-olds is open until 19 March 2021. Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say! This is such a great opportunity to have your views heard on what’s working for children and young people in Tasmania and what can be improved to ensure young Tasmanians have the very best lives possible.

There are a variety of ways members of the community, especially children and young people, can have a say:

Visiting www.wellbeing.tas.gov.au to share their contributions through drawings, paintings, or creative writing

Completing a survey

Making a formal written submission to a discussion paper 

Sending a postcard to the Premier. Postcards are being distributed across the state but are also available on the wellbeing website.

If your organisation comes into contact with children, young people, and their caregivers, and you would like to run your own wellbeing consultations, the Government has also developed a toolkit to support your conversations with them about wellbeing.

The strategy will be the first whole-of-government wellbeing strategy for improving the lives of children and young people aged 0 to 25. The Government announced the strategy's development last year following the release of my report, Investing in the Wellbeing of Tasmania’s Children and Young People, in which I recommended a long-term whole-of-government strategy for improving the wellbeing of Tasmania’s children and young people

Visit https://wellbeing.tas.gov.au/ now to have your say!

Poisons Act 1971 and Real Time Prescription Monitoring Consultation

I write to seek your organisation’s feedback on legislative changes required to facilitate initial preparations for the Tasmanian implementation of the nationally consistent Real Time Prescription Monitoring (RTPM) system; and feedback on the list of additional monitored medicines to be included in the Tasmanian implementation.

Tasmanian RTPM Background

Pharmaceutical Services Branch (PSB) within the Department of Health pioneered the development and utilisation of Australia’s first RTPM system known as DORA in 2009. DORA continues to record and report on the dispensing of Schedule 8 medicines and Schedule 4 opioids by system users (prescribers and pharmacists) to prescribers, pharmacists and PSB in real-time. This clinical decision support tool set the precedent for RTPM in Australia and has allowed Tasmanian prescribers and pharmacists to gain clarity when considering the supply of these medicines.

Tasmanian data has shown that DORA and the clinical-regulatory approach to authorising the prescribing of Schedule 8 medicines in Tasmania has been successful in achieving a population level reduction in authorised opioid doses prescribed over the past 15 years. This is supported by data presented in the Penington Institute’s Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2020 which shows that Tasmania experienced a much lower percentage increase in the rate of unintentional drug-induced deaths per capita compared with the rest of Australia between 2001 and 2018.

National RTPM Implementation

In April 2018 the federal, state and territory Health Ministers agreed to the development of a national RTPM solution. Each jurisdiction committed to integrate their respective regulatory databases with the national RTPM system to achieve national consistency.

Although the concept of RTPM in Tasmania is not new, the nationally consistent RTPM system has been developed to securely integrate with clinical workflows for clinicians using prescribing and dispensing software. The contemporary technology underpinning the national system allows for integration with prescribing and dispensing software enabling real-time pop-up notifications to be presented to prescribers and pharmacists through their practice software, rather than a stand-alone website.

These notifications can be used to directly access the Health Practitioner Portal of the national RTPM system to enable a seamless user experience and facilitate timely access to relevant clinical and regulatory information. This functionality will be a significant, and perhaps the most noticeable, difference for clinicians using RTPM in Tasmania. Access will also be available for those who handwrite prescriptions via the Health Practitioner Portal, like DORA. The national system will also allow for secure access to the Health Practitioner Portal via a mobile or tablet device.

As Tasmania has an established and effective RTPM system currently in use, the Commonwealth has indicated the initial phase of software development for the Tasmanian implementation is tentatively planned for the third quarter of 2021. The specific date for rollout to prescribers and pharmacists is subject to confirmation and a further update will be provided to your organisation as more details become available.

Poisons Act 1971 Amendment

To facilitate Tasmania’s adoption of the nationally consistent RTPM system it has been identified that amendment to the Poisons Act 1971 will be required to allow for interjurisdictional information sharing of monitored medicines prescribing and dispensing events. Amendments are also proposed to require mandatory use of the system by prescribers and pharmacists. Mandatory use of RTPM systems adopted in other countries has shown to provide greater reduction in harms from high-risk prescription medicines and represents worldwide best practice.

All jurisdictions are at various stages of integration dependent upon their local context. Victoria (SafeScript), Queensland (QScript) and South Australia (ScriptCheckSA) are the most progressed and have passed legislation to require mandatory use of the system by health professionals in most practice circumstances. Mandatory use ensures both integrity of the data within the nationally consistent RTPM system for all users and maximise the benefits of such a system.

Additionally, to enable prescribers or pharmacists working across Australia access to the monitored medicines information contained with the nationally consistent RTPM system and therefore inform safe clinical decision making, information sharing provisions are required. Such provisions have also been developed in other Australian jurisdictions for this purpose.    

This correspondence seeks to gain your organisation’s views on amendments to require mandatory use of the system by prescribers and pharmacists, noting that there will be further opportunity for feedback on the draft Bill in early 2021.

Consultation question 1

Does your organisation have any views on amendments to the Poisons Act 1971 to require prescribers and pharmacists to use a nationally consistent RTPM system?

Monitored medicines to be included in the Tasmanian implementation

Implementation of the national RTPM system requires each jurisdiction to determine the monitored medicines to be included in the system consistent with the provisions of state and territory drugs and poisons legislation.

The medicines already monitored in DORA are those included in Schedule 8 of the Poisons List as well as the Schedule 4 opioid medicines (combination codeine preparations, dextropropoxyphene and tramadol). These medicines will continue to be monitored in the Tasmanian implementation.

Other jurisdictions who are progressing with the implementation of the national RTPM system have committed to include additional Schedule 4 monitored medicines that are responsible for a significant burden of harm in Australia.  These include benzodiazepines, z-drugs, gabapentinoids and antipsychotics.

To inform Tasmania’s approach to this issue and your feedback, a detailed background paper providing analysis of issues and data relevant to the national and Tasmanian context is attached for your reference (Attachment 1). This background paper was independently authored by Mr Jim Galloway. Jim may be familiar to your members as a previous Chief Pharmacist in Tasmania who has a robust understanding of public health approaches to medicines related harms and RTPM. 

This background paper identified a proposed list of additional medicines or classes of medicines to be included in the Tasmanian implementation of the national RTPM system and is provided in Table 1.

Table 1: Proposed additional medicines and classes of medicines for inclusion in Tasmania’s implementation of the national RTPM system

Benzodiazepines

Gabapentin

Olanzapine

Pregabalin

Quetiapine

Z-drugs

These additional monitored medicines or classes of medicines have been identified as contributing to prescription drug related harms in Tasmania and largely mirror those endorsed in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

It is important to note that the inclusion of additional monitored medicines in the Tasmanian implementation of the national RTPM system will not require any additional legal authorisation of prescribers or pharmacists under the Poisons Act 1971. The inclusion of additional monitored medicines will simply provide a prescriber and pharmacist with a more complete picture of high-risk medicines prescribing and supply to inform clinical decision making. 

This correspondence seeks to gain your organisation’s feedback on the proposed additional monitored medicines to be included in the Tasmanian implementation.

Consultation question 2

Does your organisation endorse the inclusion of the additional medicines and classes of medicines proposed in Table 1 for monitoring in Tasmania’s implementation of the national RTPM system to support national consistency?

If your organisation does not endorse the inclusion of any specific additional medicines and/or classes of medicines, please provide detailed feedback regarding this.

I would be grateful for your responses to the above consultation questions in writing to ots.mailbox@health.tas.gov.au by 5pm Friday 5 February 2021.  

Yours sincerely

Ross Smith

Deputy Secretary, Policy, Purchasing, Performance and Reform

Real Time Prescription Monitoring Monitored Medicines Background Paper

The Tasmania Law Reform Institute (TLRI) is seeking public feedback on possible reforms to Tasmanian law to respond to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) conversion practices.

SOGI conversion practices are attempts to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity; to ‘convert’ someone who is homosexual or transgender into a heterosexual or cisgendered person (a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex they were assigned at birth). SOGI conversion practices are often based on pseudoscientific ideas that non-conforming sexual orientation or gender identity is the result of dysfunction, trauma or brokenness, and can be ‘healed’, suppressed or changed.

Medical and psychological practitioners have long accepted that LGBTQA+ status is not a physical or psychological disorder in any sense. Clinical studies indicate that SOGI conversion practices therefore do not work and also cause trauma and long-term harm to people exposed to them.  A range of peak national and international bodies have therefore declared such practices to be unscientific degrading, dangerous and contrary to human rights and have called for them to be banned.

National studies and survivor reports indicate that SOGI conversion practices are occurring across Australia.  As such, Queensland and the ACT recently passed laws to ban SOGI conversion practices, and on 25 November the Victorian government introduced a Bill to criminalise conversion practices.  

This Issues Paper is the basis for a public discussion in Tasmania about whether and how Tasmanian law should also be reformed in response to contemporary evidence about the harm caused by SOGI conversion practices.

This Inquiry was initiated by a community reference from peak Tasmanian LGBTQA+ stakeholder bodies and representatives. Funding for the Inquiry was provided by the University of Tasmania in 2019.

The Issues Paper was prepared by TLRI researchers with assistance from an advisory group made up of experts from law, medical and health sciences and representatives of the SOGI conversion practice survivor and faith communities. The main report author was Dr Martin Clark.

The TLRI is calling for feedback from the community, government and stakeholders on the Issues Paper and possible reforms to Tasmanian law.

The Issues Paper and online survey form can be found at www.utas.edu.au/law-reform/conversion-practices  Responses are due by 28th January 2021.

For more information or queries contact Law.Reform@utas.edu.au on 6226 2069.

/sites/tas/files/2020-12/AMAQ_Conversion-Therapy_January2020.pdf

/sites/tas/files/2020-12/2020.CP.IP.report.032.pdf

Between November 2019 and February 2020, national public consultation was undertaken to inform the development of a national obesity strategy and we are pleased to inform you that the consultation reports are now available from the national obesity strategy consultation hub.   

The national obesity strategy Working Group has considered the range of consultation findings and has been further progressing the development of the national obesity strategy.   

The draft Strategy is evidence-informed and direction-setting. It aims to guide investment over the next 10 years by governments, communities, and businesses to support all Australians to eat well and be active. It is anticipated that the draft strategy will be considered by Health Ministers, in early 2021.   

If you require any further information about the consultation reports, please contact NOS_Secretariat@health.qld.gov.au  (Noting Queensland chaired the national working group). As mentioned in my previous email to many of you regarding this work, we will be in contact with you again closer to the release of the strategy so we can plan some dates and process for taking the next steps together in Tasmania.

The Minister for Health has announced Our Healthcare Future, the second stage of the Tasmanian Government’s long-term reform agenda to consult, design and build a highly integrated and sustainable health service.

The Our Healthcare Future – Immediate Actions and Consultation Paper released today, marks the start of the Our Healthcare Future reform process. The Consultation Paper:

  • describes the challenges facing our healthcare system, both pre and post COVID-19

  • proposes three key areas for improvement, including immediate actions the Tasmanian Government is taking now, and consultation questions to guide future planning:

  • Better Community Care;

  • Modernising Tasmania’s Health System; and

  • Planning for the Future.

As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 situation, we must also address the long-term challenges facing our healthcare system. Our Healthcare Future is designed to support our recovery and ensure all Tasmanians have access to the healthcare they need into the future.

The One State, One Health System, Better Outcomes reform program was the first stage of the Government’s health reform agenda, clearly defining the role of our major hospitals in the health system.

We will now take the important next step of focussing on the delivery of better care in the community as part of a balanced and sustainable health system.

Increasing and better targeting our investment to the right care, place and time to maximise benefits to patients is a key feature of Our Healthcare Future.  Immediate actions identified to support people to be able to access care outside of our hospitals include:

  • an initiative in the North and North West to provide GPs and other primary healthcare professionals with rapid access to medical specialists, to help them to provide care for people with chronic conditions in the community;

  • consultation with stakeholders on the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) Feasibility Study findings and finalise future delivery models;

  • finalising implementation and evaluation of the Southern Hospital in the Home Trial; and

  • a Telehealth Strategy to provide high quality, integrated patient care across Tasmania.

Strengthening the clinical and consumer voice in health service planning is also important to continuing to improve the delivery of healthcare in Tasmania.  Immediate actions identified in Our Healthcare Future include:

  • a Statewide Clinical Senate to provide expert advice on health service planning to the Secretary, Department of Health and Ministers for Health and Mental Health and Wellbeing; and

  • a Future Health Leaders Forum for emerging health leaders.\

Delivering the right care, in the right place and at the right time also requires us to plan for the future so that we have the right ICT and building infrastructure to enable contemporary healthcare and so we can build a strong professional health workforce to deliver healthcare that meets the needs of Tasmanians.  Immediate actions in Our Healthcare Future  to support this include: 

  • investing in modern ICT infrastructure to digitally transform our hospitals, improve patient information outcomes and better manage our workforce.  To support this, the 2020-21 Budget has been allocated $21.6 million over three years for the procurement, implementation and operation of a contemporary and fully integrated Human Resource Information Management System;

  • partnering with Primary Health Tasmania to improve patient care by enhancing the interface between specialist and primary healthcare through e-referral, considering ways to make it easier for GPs to access key patient information and implementation of jointly agreed clinician led Tasmanian health pathways;

  • development of a 20-year Tasmanian health infrastructure strategy informed by each of the major hospital masterplans; and

  • release of Health Workforce 2040 for consultation, a 20-year strategy to shape our workforce now and into the future

Written submissions are now invited addressing the consultation issues and questions raised in the Consultation Paper. While I know the impact of COVID-19 has made this a very busy period for everyone working in health, we must continue to move forward with our reform agenda for the benefit and the community we serve.  I encourage you to be involved and provide your written submission to ourhealthcarefuture@health.tas.gov.au by 15 January 2021 this date has been extended.

If you are unable to provide a submission in writing but wish to make a contribution, you can contact a member of the Health Planning Unit on 6166 1091 or email ourhealthcarefuture@health.tas.gov.au. In the coming months, further consultation will take place with stakeholders in a way that is safe and appropriate in the COVID-19 environment.

To find out more and stay informed, visit: www.health.tas.gov.au/ourhealthcarefuture.

Invitation for consultation on the draft National Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Information Priorities - You are invited to take part in the public consultation on the draft National Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Information Priorities document. We are seeking your input and feedback on this consultation draft, which will be used to inform the final document for publication. Please forward this invitation to the most suitable person to provide a response on behalf of your organisation (if required). The consultation can be accessed at the following link: 

https://consultation.aihw.gov.au/mental-health-palliative-care/national-palliative-care-and-end-of-life-care-info

This consultation will be open until Sunday, 8 November 2020.

Independent Review of the Response to the North-West Tasmania COVID-19 Outbreak

Submissions are now being called for the Independent Review into the North-West COVID-19 Outbreak. Submissions were due on the 14th August but this deadline has now been extended to Tuesday 1 September. 

Whilst the AMA Tasmania submission has already been lodged some of you may prefer to put in your own submission to the inquiry, particularly for those of you who were directly involved.

http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/independent_review_of_the_response_to_the_north-west_tasmania_covid-19_outbreak

The Premier has established an Independent Review to consider the actions, and effectiveness of those actions, taken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in North-West Tasmania by government agencies, public and private health care facilities, and other relevant authorities.

Greg Melick AO SC has been appointed as the Independent Reviewer. An eminent member of Australia’s legal community, he practises as a barrister and mediator in several jurisdictions in both criminal and civil matters. He is also Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Tasmania’s Integrity Commission.

An expert working group is being established to advise the Independent Reviewer with members experienced in public health, hospital administration, and public sector administration.

Timeframe and scope

The Final Report, including findings and recommendations, is expected to be delivered by the Independent Reviewer by the end of October 2020, subject to the spread of COVID-19 over that timeframe and possible impacts on the availability of personnel.

Objectives

The Review will consider the actions, and effectiveness of those actions, taken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in North-West Tasmania by government agencies, public and private health care facilities and any other relevant authorities.

The Independent Reviewer will:

I.        Provide an opportunity to persons with a proper interest in the subject matter of this review to make submissions about that subject matter and, if thought necessary, to be heard personally in relation those matters;

II.        Ensure that where necessary appropriate confidentiality arrangements are made for persons assisting the inquiry; and

III.        Ensure the lived experience of North West Coast patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and those placed in quarantine are taken account of.

The Review will cover any other matter relevant to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the North West that the Independent Reviewer identifies in the course of Review activities as warranting investigation and discussion.

Terms of Reference

Following consultation the final Terms of Reference were released on 24 July 2020. (NB: TOR copied below)

Call for Submissions to the Review

Submissions are now invited to the Review. Information provided through submissions to the Review will be considered to ensure we have a responsible and transparent approach to Tasmania’s response and management of COVID-19

Submissions are open until 5pm, Friday, 14 August 2020. Written submissions can be submitted by email or post to:

Email NWOutbreakReview@dpac.tas.gov.au

Post Independent Review North-West Tasmania

GPO Box 1

Hobart, TAS 7001.

Other than indicated below, submissions will be treated as public information and will be published on the DPAC website.

No personal information other than an individual’s name or the organisation making a submission will be published.

Accessibility of submissions

The Government recognises that not all individuals or groups are equally placed to access and understand information.  We are therefore committed to ensuring Government information is accessible and easily understood by people with diverse communication needs

Where possible, please consider typing your submission in plain English and providing it in a format such as Microsoft Word or equivalent.

The Government cannot take responsibility for the accessibility of documents provided by third parties.

Important information to note

Your name (or the name of the organisation) will be published unless you request otherwise.

In the absence of a clear indication that a submission is intended to be treated as confidential (or parts of the submission), the Department will treat the submission as public.

If you would like your submission treated as confidential, whether in whole or in part, please indicate this in writing at the time of making your submission clearly identifying the parts of your submission you want to remain confidential and the reasons why. In this case, your submission will not be published to the extent of that request.

Copyright in submissions remains with the author(s), not with the Tasmanian Government.

The Department will not publish, in whole or in part, submissions containing defamatory or offensive material.  If your submission includes information that could enable the identification of other individuals then either all or parts of the submission will not be published.

The Right to Information Act 2009 and confidentiality

Information provided to the Government may be provided to an applicant under the provisions of the Right to Information Act 2009 (RTI). If you have indicated that you wish all or part of your submission to be treated as confidential, your statement detailing the reasons may be taken into account in determining whether or not to release the information in the event of an RTI application for assessed disclosure.  You may also be contacted to provide any further comment.

Final Terms of Reference

Independent Review of the Response to the North-West Tasmania COVID-19 Outbreak

Purpose

An Independent Review will consider the actions, and effectiveness of those actions, taken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in North-West Tasmania by government agencies, public and private health care facilities, and other relevant authorities.

The Terms of Reference for the Review are:

1. The chronology and response to the COVID-19 outbreak in North-West Tasmania including but not limited to:

i. the public health and health system preparedness for the outbreak;

ii. the entry and spread of the virus in North-West Tasmania;

iii. the efficacy of decisions and actions, with respect to identification, isolation, contact tracing and quarantine for cases or potential cases in the North-West;

iv. timelines and effectiveness of communications to hospital staff, the local community and private sector health service providers; and

v. access to, training for and use of Personal Protective Equipment.

2. The effectiveness of directions, notices, orders and regulations made under the Emergency Management Act 2006 and the Public Health Act 1997, in respect of the North-West.

3. The effectiveness of state, regional and local response, control, communication and co-ordination arrangements, including agency interoperability, and the co-ordination of activities with government and non-government organisations, including Public Health Services, the Department of Health, the North West Regional Hospital and the Mersey Community Hospital.

4. The timeliness and effectiveness of closing the North West Regional Hospital and the North West Private Hospital in Burnie, and the impact on other health and related facilities.

5. Any other matter relevant to the outbreak of COVID-19 in the North-West that the Reviewer identifies in the course of Review activities as warranting investigation and discussion.

6. The Reviewer will:

i. provide an opportunity to persons with a proper interest in the subject matter of the Review to make submissions about that subject matter and, if thought necessary, to be heard personally in relation those matters;

ii. ensure that where necessary appropriate confidentiality arrangements are made for persons assisting the Review; and

iii. ensure the lived experience of North-West Coast patients diagnosed with COVID19 and those placed in quarantine are taken account of.

An independent person of eminent standing and experience will conduct the Review. A working group will be established in conjunction with, and to advise, the Reviewer with at least public health, hospital administration, and public sector administration experience.

The Review will commence in mid July 2020.

The date for submissions and or consultations will be determined by the Reviewer.

The Final Report, including findings and recommendations, is expected to be delivered by the Reviewer by the end of October, subject to the spread of COVID-19 over that timeframe and possible impacts on the availability of personnel.