Meeting to Discuss Therapeutic Drugs Legislation

Historical Significance: In the early 1990s the Australian Optometrical Association embarked on a campaign to have legislation enacted that would permit optometrists to treat drugs with medicines. Up to that time optometrists could use drugs to assist them in examining the eye but could not use drugs in the treatment of eye disease.The control of prescribing of medicines lay in the hands of the State and Territory legislatures The national Association's role was to support and co-ordinate the States in their efforts. The Australian Optometrical Association (now Optometry Australia) has expertise in government negotiations and the resources to lead the campaign and it took a leading role in writing submissions, providing advice and staff were often on representations to politicians and government officials.This folder contains briefing and discussion notes for a meeting of the State divisions of the Association held as art of the campaign