The Greens today announced their commitment to providing people in rural and regional communities with access to free mental and dental health care through Medicare.

The commitment is part of the Greens’ broader $77.6 billion investment into free dental care over the decade for all Australians, which was also announced today. Under the plan, people will still be able to choose their dentist and routine and therapeutic dental services will be bulk-billed or rebated.

In a major address outlining the party’s election platform, Adam Bandt will announce the Greens’ plan to get dental into Medicare at the National Press Club in Canberra today.

The Greens leader will outline how the party is on track to hold the balance of power after the election, and will say the party’s priorities are taking climate action by stopping new coal and gas mines, and tackling the cost of living by getting dental and mental health into Medicare, fixing the housing crisis and wiping student debt.

The Australian Greens have slammed the government’s final budget for making housing more expensive, locking in tax cuts for the wealthy and funding more coal and gas projects rather than acting on the climate crisis.

The Liberals' final budget contains more than $37.6 bn for coal, oil and gas, gives $13bn of public money to property investors, and has no new money to build affordable housing.

The Greens want government invest to build a million affordable homes.

Quotes from Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

The Greens will today announce key election policies, including a ‘billionaires tax’ to help fund genuinely free public schools, dental into Medicare and a job for everyone who wants one. 

With the party considering an election in November of this year still a possibility and a minority parliament the most likely outcome, Mr Bandt will push for a tax on billionaires & corporate super profits as part of dealings with a future shared power government.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt will celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the power sharing Parliament and the agreement between Labor and the Greens during the Gillard minority government during an address to the Greens National Conference this weekend.

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.