GIVE MEDICARE TEETH
We are facing a critical juncture, a point of no return.
Poor oral health is one of the strongest indicators of poverty and disadvantage in Australia. Years of neglect have seen public dental waiting lists explode, and a lack of federal funding means that dental care is difficult to access for many Australians.
The Senate Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services made it clear that there is an urgent need to reform dental care in Australia.
Give Medicare More Bite
You can make a difference. Contact your local Member of Parliament or candidates in the upcoming election to let them know that it’s time to put the mouth back in the body, and Give Medicare More Bite.
What do you think?
Do you support expanding Medicare to include more dental services? We are interested in your views.
What dental policies do the major political parties have?
Labor Party
The 2023 ALP policy platform is to provide universal access to affordable dental services for all Australians. They promised to engage a consultative process with all relevant stakeholders to begin this work. The health minister Mark Butler is on record saying “I can’t say to people that in the short term there’s going to be any change to dental, but I do recognise in the longer term there’s a lot of ambition for dental to be covered by Medicare.”
Liberal Party
The shadow health minister Anne Ruston is on record saying that the Coalition recognises access to affordable dental care is an important issue, particularly in the context of rising health costs, and that they want Australians to have timely and affordable access to healthcare.
National Party
The National Party has no specific dental policy for regional Australians.
Greens
The Greens plan is that everyone should be able to use their Medicare card when they go to the dentist, just like when they go to the doctor. It will ensure that every person who holds a Medicare card will be able to access the essential dental services they need – for free!
