Media Statement - 19th September 2007
Labor today voted against propping up the Howard Government's failing and narrowly targeted dental scheme shambles – committing instead to use the money to fund a new Commonwealth Dental Health Program.
The Howard Government's failing scheme has only provided assistance to 14 preschoolers around the country, in the entire three years it has been in operation.
In contrast, the first instalment of Labor's Commonwealth Dental Health Program announced yesterday will fund up to 1 million dental consultations and treatments across the country.
Labor opposes this Bill because it is an election year patch-up job by a Government that has presided over 11 years of neglect in dental health.
Last time they promised to spend approximately $15 million and only spent $1.9 million; they promised to help 23,000 people but helped only 7,000.
This program has comprehensively failed, and the Government’s new promise is destined to be the same failure.
The Government has designed this program so the allocated funding will not be spent.
The Howard Government's failing scheme has been riddled with problems since its inception – red tape, complex referral procedures, restrictive eligibility, and high out-of-pocket costs.
Most of these problems remain in the Government’s latest Bill. But one is even worse - the Government is increasing the red tape burden on doctors and dentists – adding a whopping 450 new items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
It is bad policy to invest more money into a failing program which is being made more complex.
Labor will invest the $384 million the Howard Government has budgeted for its failing scheme in improving the dental health of Australian families.
Yesterday's announcement of funding for 1 million dental consultations is the first instalment of Labor's Commonwealth Dental Health Program and will provide relief to the 650,000 people on public dental waiting lists around the country.