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Thousands of patients of Sydney dentist urged to get tested for bloodborne viruses

Thousands of people who visited a Sydney dentist over a 25-year period have been urged to get tested for viruses after an audit raised concerns about sterilisation and cleaning at the practice.

NSW Health confirmed authorities had investigated the practice of Dr William Tam at Suite B, 2 Albert Street, Strathfield, and uncovered concerns about infection control practices and record-keeping.

Sydney Local Health District Staff Specialist Dr Zeina Najjar said an audit occurred in April following a complaint, which found "deficiencies in the sterilisation of equipment and in cleaning practices".

READ MORE: What the budget tax reforms mean for rents, housing prices and supply

Dr Zeina Najjar.

"[The Dental Council of NSW] conducted the initial audit and flagged the issue with [the Sydney Local Health District].

"There have been no cases of bloodborne virus transmission linked to this practice, but we are still recommending testing as a precautionary measure," Najjar said.

While Tam is now retired and no longer registered as a dental practitioner, he saw thousands of patients.

Najjar said that due to "poor" and "incomplete" record-keeping, NSW Health has no way to contact all of its patients.

"As a precaution, we are asking all of Dr Tam's previous patients to seek testing for bloodborne viruses," Clinical Director, Public Health, Sydney Local Health District, Dr Leena Gupta, said.

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"The poor infection control practices at Dr Tam's practice means all former patients may be at low risk of a blood-borne virus infection, which can have serious and long-lasting health impacts.

"People with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C may not have any symptoms for decades, so it is important that people at risk of these infections are tested, so that they can access treatment as appropriate. There are effective treatments available for all three conditions."

Patients of Dr Tam have been advised to see their local GP or contact Healthdirect

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Why it could take years for first buyers to benefit from housing tax reforms

About 75,000 Australians are set to see $19,000 slashed from house prices – but not for years. 

As expected, last night's federal budget wound back the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount to its pre-1999 settings and grandfathered negative gearing.

Most of the changes will come into effect from July 2027. 

READ MORE: The winners and losers from the federal budget

Treasury estimates the tax reform will help 75,000 people buy their first home over 10 years and save someone buying a home at the national median average price about $19,000 over "a couple of years".

"This improvement in affordability and lower investor demand is expected to shift the ownership mix towards more owner-occupiers," the budget papers said. 

While the changes were touted as the most significant of the 21st century, it may take years for lower prices and easier access to the market to reach aspiring first-home buyers. 

Grattan Institute's economic expert Matthew Bowes said the changes will lead to three per cent higher home ownership rates over a decade as investors are disincentivised to buy a property due to less generous tax breaks and profit when they sell down the line.

"What these tax reforms do is help ensure that first home buyers aren't being outbid by investors at auctions," he said.

"Over time, they will mean somewhat fewer investors and somewhat more home owners, and help support home ownership."

Bowes said the impact of the twin tax reforms on housing affordability will be "relatively small" in the next few years.

"At least to begin with, based on previous estimates of the impact of these kinds of policies," he said.

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Treasury's numbers also suggest the changes will lead to 35,000 fewer homes built over a decade and a small impact of less than $2 a week for someone paying the median rent.

The government faced a slew of criticisms this morning for breaking an election promise to deliver the tax reforms, including some questions about whether it went far enough to support first-home buyers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked about whether the tax reforms went far enough if only 75,000 would be helped over 10 years during his post-budget speech today.

He said intergenerational inequity in the housing sector reached a level he was "not prepared to tolerate".

"It's worth it for 75,000 Australians who wouldn't otherwise get a hook in the housing market," he told journalists at the National Press Club.

"It's worth the political risk that we've taken in coming to a different view and changing our policy position in some contentious areas

"I'd rather do the right thing by those 75,000 people and explain why a change in policy was necessary and own that than to leave this problem for someone else to fix down the track and in the meantime to let this problem get worse."

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