In Senate Estimates hearings today, the Government's reasons for rejecting $1 bet limits on poker machines were exposed as a lie. Under questioning from Greens Senator, Richard Di Natale, the Department (FAHCSIA) admitted that their $1.5 billion price tag was not based on the Productivity Commission's recommended policy.

Greens’ spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, said today that the $165 million secured yesterday by the Greens was a great first step but that he will be looking for a much more significant total investment in dental health in the May budget.

Greens’ spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, and Greens MP, Adam Bandt, said today that the Greens had secured $165 million in funding for dental health. The commitment to allocate the money raised by the Medicare Levy Surcharge towards dental care comes in response to the Greens support for passage of the Government’s private health insurance package. 

The Australian Greens today called for the government to split its private health reforms so that bills to means test the private health insurance rebate and the Medicare levy surcharge could be voted on independently.

“One of the key goals of health policy is to deliver healthcare to those who most need it at the lowest possible cost,” said Greens’ health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale.

Australian Greens’ health spokesperson, Senator Richard Di Natale said today that the New South Wales Government has led the way by banning all sunbeds, but now the rest of the country needs to catch up.

“The Australian Greens support the campaigners around Australia who are calling on all governments to act as New South Wales has and move to ban sunbeds.

“There is no debate in the medical community – sunbeds are dangerous. They kill people.