With the Federal election coming up next weekend, the major political parties have managed to steer clear of any new promises regarding dentistry throughout the election campaign. While the Greens are promising the same Denticare policy they took to the last election, a National Press Club debate between Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Minister Peter Dutton prompted ADA President Dr Karin Alexander to lament, “It’s quite extraordinary that at this national health debate, both the Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and Shadow Minister Peter Dutton used their mouths to make points about health policy—yet did not explain how dental health can be further improved after the Federal Election.”
The current Child Dental Benefits Scheme—whilst imperfect in its current form—is supported by both major parties. But according to Dr Alexander, the Coalition’s promise to honour the National Partnership Agreements, which economically and efficiently utilise private practice dentists to provide services to eligible patients under a voucher scheme, and keeping the Child Dental Benefits Scheme, is short on detail.
“While both parties support the Child Dental Benefits Scheme, they have not detailed whether this approach will be broadened to target disadvantaged adults, and if so, how this would occur. Taxpayers’ dollars need to be used effectively and efficiently.
“Disadvantaged Australians are those who experience financial barriers, have special needs, are frail and elderly, from rural and remote areas, and are from Indigenous backgrounds. It’s disadvantaged Australians who have complex dental needs.
“The debate has failed to show whether this dental scheme will guarantee that eligible recipients will receive support for the comprehensive courses of treatment required to address the complex dental problems.
“The Greens, while not represented at this debate, propose a Medicare style arrangement that only provides for a restricted and basic suite of dental services. They similarly neglect disadvantaged Australians and those who have experienced years of chronic dental problems.
“All parties must address disadvantaged Australians’ chronic dental problems.”
