Greens’ spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale has congratulated Tanya Plibersek on her appointment as Minister for Health, but has cautioned her on dental reform.

“I very much look forward to working with Minister Plibersek and I am pleased to see that she has flagged dental reform as a priority for the government.

“We agree with Minister Plibersek that the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme needs reform, but I would caution the Minister against trying to close down the scheme.

“The CDDS has helped thousands of Australians receive dental treatment that they otherwise would be unable to afford. We know that 80 per cent of those people who have accessed the scheme are concession card holders so it is largely reaching Australians who are most in need.

“The Chronic Disease Scheme is the platform for a universal Denticare scheme and the Greens will not support the closure of the scheme until something better is in its place.

“Medicare data does not support the new Health Minister’s comments that the scheme is being rorted. Almost all non-compliance has been due to minor administrative errors and I genuinely hope that dentists are not being unfairly targeted as a way of discrediting a worthwhile scheme.

“Today I attended a dental rescue day, organised by the National Dental Foundation, which brings together disadvantaged Australians who need dental treatment with a private dentist who provides their time and services for free. The extent of the demand for their service demonstrates that we have a broken dental system in this country.

“A small amount of funding for a dental coordinator in each state would provide crucial services to the most disadvantaged people in society and would be a great value investment.”  

Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600