ASO seeks $2,000 from each member to help fund court action

The ASO seeking of $2,000 contributions has the support of RANZCO, although it considers it is a matter for Australian fellows of the college. However, as the cause has wider ramifications, financial support from New Zealand fellows will be welcomed.
The Supre Court action was commenced against the Optometry Board of Australia following its decision in March to amend guidelines concerning diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma by optometrists.
The action also broils the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, as well as the OBA.
It was jointly commenced by the ASO and RANZCO “to protect patient safety and wellbeing from changes to the role and responsibilities of optometrists” by extending their scope of practice by allowing th to diagnose and treat glaucoma without oversight by an ophthalmologist.
Such oversight has been a successful feature of ophthalmic practice for more than a decade.
A directions hearing was held in the Supre Court of Queensland on 29 July, however the OBA challenged the standing of both RANZCO and the ASO, causing the matter to be held over while the two bodies prepared to defend their actions.
There will now be a new two-hour hearing on 30 August, but the standing challenge means the final three-day unallocated hearing vacancy for the 2014 calendar year has now been missed.