The Australian Greens are advocating for a tax on large corporations to fund the inclusion of dental services under Medicare, a proposal they believe will provide much-needed relief during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. This plan, a part of the Greens’ broader “Robin Hood Reforms,” was unveiled by Greens Leader Adam Bandt during a National Press Club address.
The proposal is central to the Greens’ strategy for the upcoming election, where they aim to draw attention to what they perceive as the Labor and Liberal parties’ failure to address corporate profiteering amid rising living costs. Bandt argued that these major parties have allowed big businesses to exploit consumers while offering only superficial solutions to economic hardship.
Under the Greens’ policy, all Australians holding a Medicare card would have access to comprehensive dental care, including services ranging from basic cleanings to complex orthodontic procedures. This initiative has strong public backing, with 97% of respondents in a recent Senate Inquiry supporting the idea of free dental care.
This isn’t the first time the Greens have pushed for dental care reforms. In 2010, during a previous minority government, the party successfully secured dental care for children, a scheme that has since provided over 43 million services to more than three million children. However, the Greens contend that both Labor and Liberal have since failed to build on this progress, leaving many Australians to delay or forgo dental care due to prohibitive costs.
Bandt emphasized that, with a minority Parliament expected, the Greens will be in a strong position to push for this policy. The plan has been independently costed at $46 billion over the forward estimates.
In his speech, Bandt highlighted the absurdity of dental care not being covered by Medicare, despite its critical importance to overall health. He cited recent statistics showing that over 60% of Australians delayed dental care last year, with 63% attributing their decision to financial constraints.
“Delaying dental care impacts people’s lives significantly,” Bandt said. “It’s time to expand Medicare so it covers everything, for everyone – and that includes your mouth.”
Senator Jordon Steele-John, the Greens’ health spokesperson, echoed these sentiments, stressing that dental care should not be a luxury. He warned that delaying dental treatment can lead to more severe health issues down the line, increasing long-term costs for the public health system.
“Bringing dental care into Medicare is not just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do,” Steele-John said.
The Greens have made it clear that they intend to continue pressuring Labor to expand Medicare to include dental care, positioning this as a key issue in the upcoming election.
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