Medtech priorities for Labor’s second term: Time to deliver

Ian Burgess, CEO of Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), and Liz Carnabuci, VP & MD of Medtronic ANZ and Chair of the MTAA Board, unpack what the re-elected Labor government means for medtech. Policy promises are on the table, but now the sector is looking for follow-through.

Access to timely and affordable care continues to be a sore point, with patient advocacy groups growing louder. The conversation turns to the reality on the ground where delays in receiving essential medical devices are more than just numbers, they’re human stories. Public or private, the barriers to access remain.

The viability of private hospitals is raised next as an urgent issue already affecting medtech and the patients it serves. The ripple effect is real, and the question is: what can be done differently?

Australia’s public hospital system isn’t spared. With wait times for essential surgeries now stretching far beyond what they were two decades ago, the strain on the system is clear. So too is its impact on how and when care is delivered for the most vulnerable patients.

And while the pharma industry managed to sidestep the recent global policy shifts, the medtech sector wasn’t so fortunate. Trump’s tariffs have added another layer of complexity, both locally and globally.

As the podcast draws to a close, the focus turns to what’s ahead. Over the next three to six months, the MTAA’s engagement with Health Minister Mark Butler and Shadow Health Minister Senator Anne Ruston will be key. The medtech agenda is set, but advancing it will require sustained effort and strategic conversations to cut through the noise.

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