2020-02-27
Leader of The Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP has announced new portfolio allocations, including the creation of a new portfolio of Dental Health, which will focus on the Greens' long-held goal of ensuring that all Australians have fully funded dental care provided through Medicare.
"I'm excited to announce our new portfolio allocations, especially the creation of a Dental Health portfolio, which will be held by Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young," Bandt said.
"Getting dental into Medicare is unfinished business for the Greens. In the 2010 power-sharing Parliament we secured Medicare dental for 3.4 million children and now we want it for everyone else too.
“The Green New Deal is about universal services and high on the list is affordable dental care for everyone.”
"Too many people put off going to the dentist because it is too expensive. This doesn't just lead to dental problems getting worse, it can lead to other health problems too, which is bad for people's health and bad for the federal budget."
"Having good teeth is also a social justice issue, as bad teeth can make it harder to get a job.”
"It's a national disgrace that many Australians can't afford dental care and I know that Sarah will put all her energy into getting dental into Medicare.
"Sarah is a great campaigner who will help make sure that every Australian knows the Greens have a plan to get dental into Medicare."
The new Dental Health portfolio comes in addition to Sarah Hanson-Young’s existing roles, including Environment & Water. The full list of portfolio allocations can be found at this link
MP Portfolios Adam Bandt
Australian Greens Leader
Member for Melbourne Climate Emergency
Energy
Employment & Workplace Relations
Public Sector
Foreign Affairs Larissa Waters
Leader in the Senate &
Co-Deputy Leader
Senator for Queensland Women
Mining & Resources
Democracy
Representing Leader on Climate Change & Energy in Senate
Representing Leader on Foreign Affairs in Senate Nick McKim
Co-Deputy Leader
Senator for Tasmania Digital Rights, I.T. & NBN
Justice
Immigration & Citizenship Rachel Siewert
Party Whip
Senator for West Australia First Nations Peoples’ Issues
Family, Ageing & Community Services
Mental Health
Gambling Janet Rice
Party Room Chair
Senator for Victoria LGBTIQ
Sport
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Forests
Sustainable Cities
Transport & Infrastructure
Science, Research & Innovation Richard Di Natale
Senator for Victoria Multiculturalism
Health Mehreen Faruqi
Senator for New South Wales Housing
Education
Animal Welfare
Industry
International Aid & Development
Local Government
Representing Leader on Employment, Workplace Relations & Public Sector in Senate Jordon Steele-John
Senator for West Australia Disability Rights & Services
Youth
Trade
Peace & Nuclear Disarmament (covers Defence)
Veterans’ Affairs Sarah Hanson-Young
Senator for South Australia Dental Health
Arts, Media & Communications
Environment & Water
Tourism Peter Whish-Wilson
Senator for Tasmania Treasury & Finance
Healthy Oceans
Waste & Recycling
Consumer Affairs
Small Business