The Australian Greens have proposed an ambitious plan to include dental care in Medicare, estimating it could save residents in the Richmond electorate at least $116 million in its first year.
The Greens’ proposal arrives as polls suggest a 98% chance of a minority Parliament, placing Richmond—a seat requiring only a 1.8% swing for the Greens to win—at the heart of a potentially decisive election outcome.
Under the plan, dental services ranging from routine cleaning and fillings to dentures and orthodontic treatments would be fully covered by Medicare. This expansion could see individuals saving approximately $978 annually, while families with two adults and two children could save up to $2,656.
The Greens aim to fund the policy through their Big Corporations Tax, a measure targeting excessive profits of major corporations, projected to raise $514 billion over a decade.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt is campaigning in Richmond alongside Greens candidate Mandy Nolan, emphasizing the pressing need to address rising living costs and unaffordable dental care. Bandt highlighted that the average cost of a standard dental check-up in NSW now approaches $300.
“With cost-of-living pressures hitting Richmond hard, our plan to expand Medicare to include dental care could be life-changing,” Bandt said. “When the Greens last held influence in a power-sharing Parliament in 2010, we secured dental into Medicare for children. This time, we’ll fight to expand it for everyone.”
Bandt confirmed that the Greens would prioritize the dental plan during negotiations if a minority government is formed after the next election.
Mandy Nolan, the Greens candidate for Richmond, underscored the urgency of the issue:
“People are being forced to have teeth removed instead of accessing critical dental care because they simply can’t afford it,” Nolan said. “For some, a dental emergency can be life-threatening, particularly the elderly or those with chronic illnesses.”
Nolan argued that including dental care in Medicare aligns with its original vision and would significantly alleviate cost-of-living pressures. “The Greens’ plan will bring this vision to life and, quite literally, put smiles on people’s faces.”
Key Points of the Greens’ Dental Medicare Plan:
- What’s covered: All services listed in the Australian Schedule of Dental Services, including cleaning, fillings, dentures, and orthodontics.
- Public support: A Senate Inquiry found that 97% of respondents support greater government-funded dental care.
- Funding: The Greens’ policy, independently costed by the Parliamentary Budget Office, is projected to cost $46 billion over the forward estimates.
- Corporate tax reform: The Greens’ Big Corporations Tax would raise $514 billion over 10 years.
Bandt criticized the government’s retreat from dental care reforms despite prior commitments, emphasizing that more than half of Australians delayed dental visits in the past year, with most citing cost as the reason.
“In a wealthy country like Australia, no one should be denied essential healthcare,” Bandt said. “If you want meaningful change to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, vote for the Greens and Mandy Nolan.”
The Richmond seat, historically contested between Labor and the Greens, will play a crucial role in determining the next Parliament. With a razor-thin margin from the 2022 election, Nolan’s ongoing grassroots campaign could make Richmond a breakthrough win for the Greens.
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