Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the announcement she is continuing as spokesperson for Environment and Water, and Media and Communications, and adding Tourism and Dental Health to her portfolio responsibilities under the new leadership of Adam Bandt MP.

“This year will be defining for our environment. We are experiencing environmental collapse in the face of a climate crisis and the people in charge are riddled with division and have no plan. There’s a lot of work to do,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

The Greens health reform package will reduce out of pocket costs and build a truly universal healthcare system – including Medicare funded dental care – that provides healthcare for everyone, regardless of bank balance, postcode or illness.

“Medicare was a visionary reform and point of pride for many Australian but years of neglect, populist politics and piecemeal reforms have resulted in driving up costs for patients and prevented investment in areas that matter,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.

“Today I am moving to disallow the government’s harsh cuts to Medicare funded child dental care," Senator Richard Di Natale said today.

“Late last year the government took the axe to child dental – ripping $300 per child and dramatically reducing children's’ access to dental care.

“The Child Dental Benefits Schedule was a key win of the Green’s power sharing arrangement with the former Gillard Government.

“We will fight to protect it, and are calling on the Senate to support our disallowance. 

Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale condemned the Turnbull government's huge cuts to dental services funding announced today by Health Minister Susan Ley.
 
“The is another attempt by this Government to balance the budget off the back of health care for the most vulnerable people in our society. Cutting the value of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule by $300 per child will significantly reduce the amount of dental care that Aussie kids can access.”