Greens’ spokesperson for dental health, Senator Richard Di Natale, said today that Tony Abbott recognises the need for dental reform, but his plan is to delay action for at least a decade.
“Yesterday Tony Abbott was singing from the Greens’ song sheet when he spoke of the need for Medicare funded dental treatment. The difference is, we are committed to action.
“Mr Abbott recognises what the Greens have been saying for years. It doesn’t make any sense for the mouth to be treated differently to the rest of the body and millions of Australians do delay necessary dental care, or choose not to go at all, because of the costs.
“But Joe Hockey said this morning that reforms such as Denticare and the NDIS must wait until Australia enjoys a consistent surplus around $10 billion and the national debt has been significantly paid down.
“In reality, this amounts to the Coalition doing nothing at any time in the next decade. In other words, Denticare would have to wait until some point in the fourth term of an Abbott government at the earliest.
“Abbott’s inaction would result in a further 600,000 Australians ending up in hospital because they can’t afford a dentist, at a cost of $5 billion to the health system and $20 billion in lost productivity.
“The Greens will be calling on the Government to support our plan for a national Denticare scheme to be phased in over five years, starting with the next budget.”
Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600