Download a Dental Health Reform Package Fact Sheet (PDF)
The Greens have ensured that millions of children will get Medicare funded dentistry and millions more adults will have better access to public dental care.
The Greens and the Government have agreed on a new national dental health scheme worth nearly $5 billion over the next 6 years. This means:
• $515 million in this year’s Budget to tackle waiting lists, invest in oral health promotion and boost the dental workforce.
• $2.7 billion to give Medicare-style dental care to all kids aged 2-17 in FTB-A families.
• $1.3 billion for a massive expansion in the public dental system.
• An extra $225 million in flexible grants for infrastructure and services in rural and remote and indigenous communities.
For too long we’ve treated the mouth as separate from the rest of the body, and that has resulted in an oral health crisis in this country. One in three people can't afford to see a dentist. But all that is about to change.
Soon, taking your child to the dentist will be as easy as taking them to the GP. If you've got a concession card, you'll have much better access to public dental care because the massive funding boost will slash dental waiting lists.
On top of the $500m federal Budget commitment that we secured in May, the new dental health package announced on 29 August 2012 by Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and Greens Health Spokesperson Senator Richard Di Natale provides an extra $4.1b for dental services over the 4 years from 2013-14 to 2017-18.
The path to Denticare - universal dental care
The Greens remain committed to a dental health scheme that is universal, so that every Australian can receive dental health care no matter their financial circumstances. The new reform package is the next step on the path towards a universal Denticare scheme. 3.4 million young Australians will now have access via an individual entitlement. The Greens will continue to work to expand this entitlement over time until all Australians can go to the dentist in the same way they go to the doctor.
Delivering public dental care for all Australians was a central part of our agreement to support Labor to form government. This result shows how power sharing governments can make a real difference to people's lives when parliamentarians work together constructively.
