MEDTECH INDUSTRY INVITED TO NSW PARLIAMENT HOUSE Local manufacturing emerges as key priority, along with jobs, supply chain resilience and patient benefits

With
Justin Foster,
Associate Director, Advocacy and Government Relations,
Medical Technology Association of Australia

Brendan Cummins
VP & General Manager ANZ,
Baxter Healthcare

The Hon Courtney Houssos MLC, Minister for Finance,
Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement,
Minister for Natural Resources, NSW Parliament

James Doyle, Vice-Chair
Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)

Lachlan Thorpe, Age 21
Diagnosed with CRPS following sporting injury, recipient of spinal cord stimulator

SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | August 2026

The inaugural NSW Parliament MedTech Showcase, hosted by The Hon Courtney Houssos MLC  has highlighted the medical technology sector’s contribution to patient care, local manufacturing, jobs and the broader economy.

Speaking with the Australian Health Journal, Justin Foster, Associate Director of Advocacy and Government Relations at the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA), said the event provided an important opportunity for industry and government to work together on shared priorities.

He said the showcase demonstrated that MedTech not only saves and improves lives, but also creates significant economic opportunities through manufacturing, investment, exports and employment. “We’re collaborating with them on a unity ticket in terms of delivering more value to the economy, manufacturing, and also to local jobs,” Foster said.

The event brought together a diverse range of companies, from emerging startups and small and medium-sized businesses to global MedTech companies investing in NSW. The showcase also demonstrated the importance of sovereign manufacturing capability, particularly during supply disruptions.

The message was local production could strengthen supply chains while supporting highly skilled employment and innovation. The event also provided an opportunity for the industry to discuss policy issues, including value-based procurement, which seeks to ensure purchasing decisions consider the broader value of medical technologies rather than price alone.

Foster said the showcase could serve as a model for further engagement across Australia. “There is definitely an opportunity for us to be engaging across states and territories,” with future discussions potentially extending the initiative beyond NSW.

Source: Written by Australian Health Journal from transcript.